Try this. I bet it will help you:
Well, I'm done. Tried twice today. Two different pipes, two different baccys (ESO and so to bed and ps navy deluxe). Both times I tried the finger over the top to keep the cherry stoked, which worked to keep it from going out so long as i kept up a nearly constant rate of puffing every 10-15 seconds. Gurgle set in nearly right away, within 15 minutes. I'm done. Just too damn frustrated.