Diagonal coil is fine. I build all mine that way but cut the wick just long enough to touch the deck and no longer. I also cut the wick at an angle instead of straight so the wick lays without bunching up too much and I always tuck the wicks back so the juice channels are open. If you have sharp kinks in your wick it won't flow as efficiently so make sure they do a smooth curve down to the deck and are not twisted through the coil. The straighter the fibers are through the coil the easier they wick. I'll get some pics when I do my next rebuild or re-wick. Small tip for you though, don't loosen the air flow screw past flush with the base or remove it. The EHPro v3 is made so when the air flow is fully open the screw is flush with the base.