admittedly, i havent read the entire thread...
i use a moisture meter. too many variables in any other way. (not a meter for humidity, a meter used mostly for wood moisture content)
i use
Grove bags, so no loss from when i put them in the bag till i use it.
dry to 40% moisture content. brown bag till 15-18%. clean up and weigh out and bag in
grove bags.
the numbers change as to the meter you use, but the consistency makes it so you can use it with a high degree of success, and no additional loss in weight even a year later when you open it.
good luck on finding your answers though!
the
Grove Terp-Loc Bags make the biggest difference in things, but the moisture meter is my best solution to exacting the numbers so it works every time with every strain.
i insert the probe in a large bud, set it to send an alert to my phone when it hits the right numbers. i go open the door (so the first light it sees) and move it to the paper bag. next alert, i clean it up and weigh it out and bag it in
Grove bags and store it (oh... and write on it all the deets)
it works even when the humidity is different, or the temp alters with the day. i dont have to open things and "check" for crisp or anything else. i dont guess at bend or snap of a branch. i know what size bud to pick, i guess that is a variable, but i found the answer to that one!
all the issues most have are solved with a grove bag and a moisture meter. the bags are cheap! i got enough for my needs for about $25 with discounts (lots of sizes and can get 1 or 2 of a size or 25 or any number!)
mine is for my use, but i like storing it in 1/2 oz bags ($.58 cents each). i open and use it before i get bored of it and i can go to the next one!
when this growing adventure started, i dried to smoke, curing was just something other people did! with the
grove bags i "accidentally" cured it! i had lots less loss, and as i grew more the stuff lasted in storage longer and then one day i pulled out one i thought "meh" about and tried it... OMG my eyes were opened! much better smells, the taste was noticeable! (not that i liked some - the skittlez is a fruity foot that was removed from a cows ass...)
one in particular, the GG#4, i was liking the high, but no taste except smoke and rough smoke at that. made me cough lots. so i stuck it away and avoided it, so many were coming in and i was trying them a week from cutting!
one day, i pulled some out (mostly to show off a fun Grove bag i got with GG#4 on it) and we smoked and OMG!!! well, any who have tried a well cured GG#4 know about the taste! lol. i am not sure i like it, but it is distinct and sort of sweet. but the effect was stunningly better than before the cure.
anyway, try a Grove bag and just try out a moisture meter and absolutely do the sweating stage! it changes things a LOT!!