I finally figured out how to get the dandy pop up plunger off, and I found . No pics, you can thank me later.
Drain strainer, $2-$3 at your local hardware...worth 100 times that in headache, time, and trouble saved. I found it shocking how well these work...they catch everything but the water...PITA sometimes because you may need to clean it to get the water to go down, but that is alot easier that drain disassembly! I didn't think it would seal well on our tub because our tub is not flat around the drain area...but it conforms to the tub fine. Speaking of working on drains...here is another cheap item that you need while you are at the hardware, I have not had to take a drain apart since I bought one...may have to remove a drain stopper, or cover...but after that simply slide the tool down the drain...when it comes back out it will bring the offending hairball with it. (there are many different versions of this tool out there, mine is very similar to this one)
There was a TV show "My strange addiction" and one of the stories was about a guy that would pick tub drains at people's house. Absolitely bizzare.
I bought one of those for my clawfoot bathtub at my old house (no drain stopper, used rubber plug). I guess I was using it upside down, it did not fit in the drain hole
