Gemstone Drilling Equipment: Dremel vs. Drill Press - Which is Best?

Question
QUESTION: I am just getting into drilling and need to buy equipment.  Should I be looking at a dremel tool with its work station or a conventional small drillpress?  What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?  Thanks so much

ANSWER: Hi Nancy,

What type of drilling are you going to be doing?  Beads?
What type of stone?  How many units per day?

Myself I use a dremel with a flex shaft, I also use a drill press for doing large holes using core drill bits.  

So it depends on what you are doing.

Regards,
Steven D.Covey

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Steven,
I would like to drill all type semiprecious gemstone nuggets and beads, as well as focal elements up to 1 inch thick.  I would like to know what speed is best to use on the rotary tool, do you drill under water, do you use clay or a vice of some sort to hold the piece being drilled, do you use a diamond drill bit, what size hole do you use, do you use a round head drill bit or a regular shaft, and any other suggestions you can provide me with.  Thank you for your time.

Answer
You may want both.  Also I found this drill for drilling pearls.  You could use diamond bits with it as well.  You would want to run a water drip system on the bit while drilling to cool the bit. Here is the site.  

http://www.topearl.com/pdm200-simple-style-pearl-drilling-machine-p-3810.html

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Steven D.Covey