When I tumble jewelry, I use 2 lbs of Stainless steel shot (make sure it is stainless!), fill with water till 2/3 full, add a little squirt of Dawn dish soap (easy now, don't over do)...then tumble. Rinse and lay to dry on soft towel.
For soft stones and pearls, I will use this method: I use 1 lb. of stainless steel shot and fill with plastic pellets till 1/2 full...then add water till 2/3 full, squirt a tad of Dawn dish soap and tumble.
NOTE:I have a Loretone 3lb. tumbler...however, you can get a tumbler from Harbor Freight that is cheaper and will work fine for jewelry, but not for rocks. Stainless steel shot and plastic pellets can be bought at monsterslayer.com .
