How to determine the blend based on the ring gauge

[Luacino]

I'm making a blend using entubato and double binders.

Online suggestions mainly recommend a 4-leaf formula: one ligero, two seco, and one volado. This formula seems to have a 48-ring diameter and doesn't require backfilling.
I'm using mostly medium-thickness leaves; is this estimate accurate? How can I minimize the amount of leaf breakage during filling to achieve a Churchill sized ?

Thanks.

 

[The Haroo ln]

I think all that comes with experience. You will get a feel for each leaf and know how thick the RG on the cigar you want to make will be. My advise is just keep practising. Theres no shortcuts to rolling just as theres no shortcuts to growing your tobacco. Experiment with the different tobaccos (varieties, thicknesses) and get a feel for whats right for you. Also dont forget a double binder will help increase the ring gauge as will a bit of a thicker wrapper if thats what your looking for.
As for minimizing breakage of leaves bring your fillers up to low case. They should crack a little when folded but if they are crumbling, then they are too dry. If they are too moist/humid then you might have draw issues. Again this is something you will learn with experience.

 

[jclif43]

In the key forum threads there is a chart that bases various ring gauge cigars based off weight in grams of the leaves you use. You may want to look at that and try based off weight in grams to see if that gets you in the ballpark. This is how the big producers do it.