presleyleather Report post Posted April 7, 2018 (edited) Having a hell of a hard time installing this tin strainer and getting it flush with the bars. How flush and smooth is it supposed to be exactly? I imaging as smooth as you can get it, but can't seem to get it looking nice, it seems clunky and It's not shaping very easily at all for me. Plum broke my rubber mallet on it (are they supposed to be this difficult to shape) Finally had it sitting nice and shaped how I wanted, then lined the bottom and skifed down the edges and set it back on and it just doesn't look good at all Slick fork Wade saddle, have plugs installed. Looking for tips or installation pictures. And maybe your favorite place to buy tin strainers. Thanks in advance, really frustrated here and looking for some advice. Edited April 7, 2018 by presleyleather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oltoot Report post Posted April 8, 2018 Look at old threads, there is one there with lots of pics. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
presleyleather Report post Posted April 8, 2018 (edited) I was looking through old stuff but most threads seem to be arguments about leather ground seat vs strainer. I'll try to find the one with pictures Edited April 8, 2018 by presleyleather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goldshot Ron Report post Posted April 10, 2018 (edited) Here's one tip if you haven't tried it yet; make angled cuts between the nail holes along the bars. The cuts should be uniform in length and distance between each other. The cut would be from the edge of the strainer, and no further than the edge of the bar (approximately 3/4 to 1 inch). Cuts don't have to be made along the cantle section. This allows the strainer edge to conform to the bars without hammering the hell out of the center seat part of the strainer. You shouldn't be hammering the plate so hard that you break a mallet. Also, use an anvil to help shape the plate, not your tree. I have a piece of train rail for my anvil. Also, make sure that the bottom of the strainer is not so flat that it lies on the horse's spine, or pushes the pad down causing a pressure point along the back. Everyone lays the ground seat pieces differently over the strainer, so remember that the leather primarily forms the seat, not the metal strainer. Hope this helps, Ron Edited April 10, 2018 by Goldshot Ron adding photo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oltoot Report post Posted April 10, 2018 If you can't find it, I can email you the pics from which the thread was made if you would like. Send email addy to oldcoot1913@outlook.com. Ron's tip will go a long way toward solving the problem. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
debwilliams Report post Posted May 2, 2018 On 4/10/2018 at 10:24 AM, oltoot said: If you can't find it, I can email you the pics from which the thread was made if you would like. Send email addy to oldcoot1913@outlook.com. To Oltoot: I sent an email and also PM to you but your email won't go through. Could you post the pictures for the seat strainer thread you mentioned? There are many older tutorials on this site that no longer have any pictures included (such as the leather ground seat tutorial) so the tutorials are no help to new learners like me. I know that posting the pictures takes time and effort on your part and thank you for your help and contributions. Deb Williams Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
