Hi Timmy, ss mesh is notoriously difficult to get to work in genesis type atties so dont be thinking that its only yourself that is having these issues!
The tube of ss mesh that you have made obviously will have an end visible on the tube running lengthways along the tube (hard to describe but I hope you understand what I mean) so unroll the mesh a bit and double the end over on itself so you dont have a cut end on the tube and try that because where the mesh is cut will become brittle after burning and cause shorts. Just fold it flat underneath itself so there is no cut end for your coil to touch. Only a couple of mm folded over will do, your only trying not to have a cut end touching the coil.
Check with the meter for conductivity over the mesh tube, you should get no reading off it at all. Yes use resistance settings on your meter and there should be no readings,if its fluctuating then its not oxidised properly.
The cigarette paper trick puts a bit of carbon on the mesh directly beneath the
coils thus stopping any shorting so if you are getting any readings off the mesh with the meter then try this trick.
Good luck and let us know if you got it to work.