Foley Automatic Hand Saw Retoother Model 385 on YouTube

The simplest improvement you can make to any Foley saw filer

You clamp a saw in the saw carrier in its approximate position.  Then you loosen a clamp to adjust the saw, the clamp falls down, and you swear.  Make the saw carrier clamps spring loaded and they will stay up by themselves (bottom photo).  Use your cuss words for something else.  Use a 3/8" diameter spring, cut it to about 1/4" to 3/8" long, slip a 1/4" flat washer and the spring over the carriage bolt as shown in the top photo.  The washer keeps the spring from slipping through the slot.  If the spring and washer create too much friction, shorten the spring a little or use a brass washer.  

Sources for taper saw files

As most of you know, finding good quality taper saw files is a challenge.  If taper saw files are still made in the US, I am not aware of it, but those were top quality.  New old stock American and Canadian made files do show up on eBay and at flea markets, and sometimes can be purchased with saw filers.  Some of the US file manufacturers were Nicholson (including Black Diamond and Arcade), Simonds, Johnson, Heller Brothers, Lenox, Disston, Atkins, Lutz, K&F, and Delta.  These makers also packaged saws for store brands and wholesalers like Sears, Wards, Western Auto, Keen Kutter, and Belknap.  Grobet made taper saw files in Canada.  

The complete 1976 Simonds file catalog is available in 2 parts on this site.  Taper saw files are in the American pattern section.

Some sources for new files are:
https://shop-foley-belsaw.com/foley/5.cat
http://b2bprofessionaltools.com/
http://westsidedelivers.com/search.asp
https://www.grainger.com/Grainger/hand-files-and-rasps/files/hand-tools/ecatalog/N-93jZ1z0nofl
http://www.justsaw.com/paccessories.htm
http://bandsawblade.com/SimondsFiles/americanpattern.htm
http://www.tradosupply.com/
http://www.artcotools.com/american-pattern-files-c-358.html
http://store.harryepstein.com/
Any local hardware store.  I am in mine several times a month and did not realize they had a few US made 6" double extra slims until recently, so I bought them all.

Indoor and outdoor flea markets can also be good sources for US made files of all kinds.  There are usually several files in almost every toolbox I check, and taper saw files show up regularly.  Even with toolbox knocks and a bit of rust, they are well worth the $1 or $2 each I have paid.  Also, if you have an antique tool club near you, join and attend meetings, as other members are good sources for files.


Heller Brothers Nucut files box



Foley retoother gauge

Thanks to reader Joe Federici for a measured drawing of a retoother gauge, available at Vintage Machinery.