Wicking needs to be tighter than a badgers chuff (don’t ask me how I know that!).Dry burn before wicking to see if there’s any hotspots or kinks (if so replace the mesh).Only dry burn at very low wattage, 15 watts is ample.Ensure you use a rod to pre-bend the mesh (gently wrap the mesh around the rod).
Avoid touching the mesh while wicking to avoid kinking.