something with a "dirty" flame works best. Catalytic heaters and torches burn to efficiently to coat the mesh. You want something that will deposit "soot" on it.
I have tried both and a lighter does seem to work best.
I guess I haven't noticed because Kanthal A-1 very quickly builds it's own oxidation so it must be what is insulating my coils from the mesh. I guess it was a lucky dart that I picked it over nichrome 60 (and that there is a Kanthal factory next door to where I work so I wanted to support local businesses here).
