Yeah, I use pliers to make the screen.

I'll start by unraveling some of the copper and get a strip about half an inch wide and cut it off.

Then I'll fold it over a few times and any "strings" are wrapped around the mesh to make a disc.

I'll then pinch the mesh in my fingers and use pliers to smooch the mesh into the correct sized disc to fit in the vapor genie without it touching the glass sides and then use the pliers again to smooch the top and bottom to make it 3-5mm thick.

It seems like the thinner the disc, the faster it reaches the right temp.

Hopefully this helps, if not, I might make a video to show it a little better.