A coiled strip is detached from a wound coil assembly 10 containing a plurality of coiled strips 16 interconnected by intermittently spaced tabs 18 bridging the parting lines 15 between adjacent strips 16 by separator apparatus 20 in a manner which prevents distortion or marring of the adjacent strip material. The separated strip 16 is caused to be wound into a tighter coil (thereby facilitating subsequent handling thereof) by means of a cylindrical body 22 having a slot to engage the inner end of the coil 16'. The body 22 is turned by an arm 30 carrying a handle 32.