It's been a long time since I've piped-up, but I'd like to suggest a
trip-hammer type setup:

I had a very hard time keeping consistent pressure with the Pliers Type saw
sets on one side of the saw versus the other. To get around this, I bought
a Foley 381 bench-mounted trip-hammer style setter from a fellow Galoot. I
actually look forward to and enjoy using it. A spring keeps tension on the
hammer, which is cocked and tripped by a manual foot pedal as I line up
each tooth.

http://members.acmenet.net/~con12a/saw%20set%20website/hammer2.htm
-10th box from the top.

Jon