Don't mean to revive this tired thread, or to
But, some botl may benefit from this, especially noobs or semi-noobs.
Disclaimer!
1) I'm not a KL preacher/basher or a Heartfelt preacher/basher. Just an older guy on a budget, with a growing cigar habit. I have purchased Beads and accessories from Heartfelt a few times.
2) I live in one of the world's friendliest climates with respect to cigar storage. Here in Santa Cruz, CA, the RH and temperature stay between 60 and 70 for probably 7 months a year, and does not stray far from that the other 5.
I bought these beads.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HWE6F0/ref=pe_175190_21431760_cs_sce_dp_1
I bought this cooler
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000G64I1A/ref=pe_175190_21431760_cs_sce_dp_p2
After much research, I decided to go for it doing the "on-the-fly" method, using the KL without any "training". I made five 1/4lb. KL trays, shallow, covered with pantyhose, and set in 5 full cigar boxes (which came from a RH stable environment) and multiple plastic trays with loose sticks (also from a stable environment) totaling about 250+ cigars...there's still quite a bit of room in the cooler.
Put it all in there (the KL being dry), and waited 12 hours, RH was at 58%. Moderately misted one of the KL trays. 12 hours later, RH at 62%. Moderately misted a second tray. 12 hours later, RH at 65%. Did nothing. 12 hours later, RH at 68%. Did nothing.
It is now 36 hours later, RH still holding at 68%.
It's still very early in the game, but I'm a happy camper.
Very easy and cheap for me to set-up additional coolers now, which I'm sure I'll be doing sooner than later.
As a separate exercise, I am "training" 1/2 pound of KL using humicare pillows (67%), just to see if it works.
This worked for me. Your mileage may vary.