Sharpening woes

[asdf12345]

Today I picked up the three stone Smith sharpener and got to work on my only two knives that don't push cut paper - my Benchmade 640 and my Benchmade 350. After reading a guide, and brief trial and error, I was able to get the 640 to push-cut paper. Worked up a burr, stropped the edge, everything. But my 350 simply will not get sharp. The factory edge was significantly uneven, but so was the factory edge on the 640. For whatever reason I cannot sharpen my 350. Is there something I am overlooking?

 

[Squashfan]

So you have been unable to raise a burr on the 350? Try looking at the edge straight on, 90 degrees under a powerful light. Do you see a reflection?

 

[asdf12345]

After several passes on the medium stone in both directions I looked at it under sunlight and found a sort of jagged wire edge. I then moved on to the fine stone and made 5 passes on each side, alternating sides on each pass. I then got a piece of cardboard and rubbed it along the edge while keeping the surface parallel to the bevel. I looked at it again and there didnt seem to be a burr.

 

[Ajack60]

If you can't feel a burr, you're not hitting the apex of the blade. Mark the bevel with a sharpie to determine the angle of the bevel. Use a course stone to shape the blade to the desired angle you want. With the course stone, you will get the angle you are looking for and actually sharpen the knife with that stone, meaning you should create a burr with the course stone. The medium and fine stones are for smoothing the edge once you've gotten the bevel you want. You should be able to shave hair with the course stone only and then define the bevel with the medium/fine stone for a smooth push cut.
Then you can use the medium/fine stones to keep the edge up.