I’ve been using the older model of the Pepe jumpringer for years, one of my diversions being chainmaille. It’s a great product with a learning curve. However, if you are only making very small rings or smaller quantities, you can make your coils as you have been, wrap a piece of masking tape along one side of the coils top to bottom, insert your blade and cut the coils against your pin, from the inside, bottom to top while holding the coil on the taped side facing you. It’s not as difficult as my explanation. If your fingers cramp up you can hold the coil in a wooden ring clamp; you might need a bit more tape.
Hope that helps.
Denny Diamond