Saw Tooth Setter - Categories of Saw Set - Lever and Plate

Lever and Plate

This type of saw set can be called lever, plate, wrest, spring or comb. The plate that forms the body of the tool is fitted over the saw and levered perpendicular to the saw blade which springs or bends the tooth to an angle. The name comb likely refers to versions with many slots which bears resemblance to a comb for hair.

The simplest form of a lever saw set is a plate, usually of metal, thick enough to only fit over one tooth at a time and notched to a depth less than that of the tooth. To more easily create a consistent set, a stop of some form is added to the design ensuring the tool be levered to the same angle on each tooth. These stops (also, stop blocks) can be adjustable as in the case of the thumbscrews on the saw set in Fig. C.

One advantage of this design is that many lever saw sets can bend the tooth either direction. An alternating set can be made without turning the saw or saw set around as is generally necessary with Hammer or Pliers style saw sets.