I'll second everything Lhartman said. It works great and is super cheap by the foot at a hardware store. I DID find out that it WILL unravel if you cut off just a tiny bit. I was toying with the idea of using a very short length of it in a dripper, but it came apart every time.
Put some electrical tape around where you're going to cut, and make that cut in the middle of the tape, if that makes sense. That will help keep it together. And be advised that the small part is going to go flying when you DO make the cut. I always aim mine at a box or something.
Also, I like using an ekowool sleeve instead of mesh for the top part, around which I wrap the coil. This sort-of idiot-proofs the coil. You still need a good, even wrap, but you won't have hard shorts due to sloppy coils. You CAN still get a hot leg though.
