Try using mineral water?
I altered the procedure a little and it worked fine first time, tested with the multimeter and zero continuity.
First I did the entire wick, not just the top part and this was roughly how it went:
Heated to glowing red and quenched immediately in water, 4x.
Heated to glowing red and quenched in pure PG (no nic or flavourings), then set fire to it to burn off the PG, 3x.
Sooted the wick with a cigarette lighter, 1x.
Heated Kanthal to red hot, 1x. This seems to make the coil wrapping easier as I believe it anneals the wire, it's certainly less springy afterwards and stays in place easier.
Wrapped coil and connected to terminals, it's been
vaping like a dream.
I have next to no experience with genesis atties, this is only my second after Sturms G-
tank that I (possibly hastily) sold as I couldn't be arsed with it's little 'quirks' like needing pliers to open the bxstard all the time. So I have no claim at expertise or even experience but mine's working like a dream first time round.
It might help, or it may just be fluke but I think it was the quenching directly into PG that helped. I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.