Many of us use what you'll see us refer to as SnC, which is Lily Sugar N Cream cotton yarn. It holds it's shape much better than cotton balls do.

If you're going to use cotton balls, and I know some people do I have a suggestion that might work. Turn your coil 90 degrees and after fastening it down pull it up and almost wedge it between the nuts. When you do that it almost forces your wick to point up because the tops of the posts push it up.

Maybe that will work?? I just use SnC in mine as many others do so I can't speak from experience on anything else.

If you're going to use cotton balls, and I know some people do I have a suggestion that might work. Turn your coil 90 degrees and after fastening it down pull it up and almost wedge it between the nuts. When you do that it almost forces your wick to point up because the tops of the posts push it up.

Maybe that will work?? I just use SnC in mine as many others do so I can't speak from experience on anything else.