GGGGG

I never really looked at the various sawsets for why one might be better than
the other.  Today I looked at the 6 variations I have down there and found there
are 4 features that they might have:

1) A double action that first grabs the saw plate, then pushes the plunger
against the tooth vs just a plunger
2) An adjustable guide to help align the plate vs no guide
3) An anvil that moves up and down but does not change its set angle vs a
spinning wheel with a variable angle at the edge
4) A numbered scale to help select the right set for the size of tooth vs
reference lines to help with more or less set

This does not take into account ergonomics.

I looked at these:  Stanley 42, 42X, 42W, 442, Taintor #7, MIllers-Falls with no
number.  The 442 was included just for fun because it is so crazy and obviously
an inferior tool.

Here are pictures and some comments.  Click left and right, text below

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/45813399185/in/album-72157677701
426748/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/45813399185/in/album-72157677701
426748/ <https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/45813399185/in/albu
m-72157677701426748/">https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/45813399185/in/albu
m-72157677701426748/>

Some questions and observations.  Does weight help or hurt?  The Taintor is very
light, the M-F very heavy, and the Stanleys in between.  I like a heavier tool
and the Stanleys seems about right.

Is the upright stance of the M-F and Stanleys better than the bent over stance
of the Taintor?  I like the upright stance for the height of my saw vice and the
way I sit on a stool to work it.

Is the double plunger a help?  I think so.

Does the Stanley method of moving the anvil up and down versus the wheel give a
better set?  Seems like the Stanley method will just bend a smaller portion of a
smaller tooth and that may not be as good for the metal as bending more of the
tooth to a lesser angle

Stanley 42 has no guide whatsover, and no numerical setting scale
42X has double plunger guide, but no numerical setting scale
42W has adjustable guide and numerical setting guide
M-F  has adjustable guide and numerical setting guide
Taintor #7 has no guide whatsover, and a numerical setting scale

All said and done, it seems like the 42X is the choice of many because of the
double plunger.  42W has no double plunger, but has a handy numerical scale to
the anvil to help in your trial and error and to repeat the setting, and it also
has the adjustable guide.  I have only used the 42X for the last 10+ years (8-10
saws?) so I might try the 42W next time.

Ed