Open the WLT bags by carefully cutting of the sealed top of the bag. Remove just the leaf you plan to use immediately. Express air from the bag, and roll the top several times. Clamp this with a chip clip or several wooden clothespins. (I use wooden clothespins, available for cheap at a Dollar store.)
Case:
Filler should be in low case (a little noisy, may crack a bit, but will not crumble). It is usually ready to use right out of the bag.
Binder should be in medium case--flexible and be at least as quiet as thick vinyl.
Wrapper should be in high case--flexible, stretchy, limp, and completely silent when you handle it. The surface should not feel wet.
For beginning rollers, I always recommend that you roll one, smoke one. If you roll multiples, before sampling them, you will need to roll more cigars for the same amount of learning. If the filler is in low case, then the cigar can be smoked immediately. [They taste nicer after resting a day or three, but your initial goal is to consistently roll a cigar with an acceptable draw. Beauty comes later, and so do nuanced taste tests.] I also suggest not using a mold, until you can free-roll a decent cigar. Getting the draw right when using a mold is more difficult, and is a separate skill to acquire later.
Other members have other approaches.
Good luck. Have fun. Do post a pic of your first cigar in the Pics of Your Sticks thread. We love to see them.
Bob
