Thread: Coiling a strop

Would there be a problem if I coiled or rolled up my strop for travel? I normaly hang it at home. It seems more protected rolled up.

Coiling it one way can crinkle the surface, while coiling it the other way can split it. Don't know that I'd risk either with a really nice strop.

On the other hand, I took my cheapo homemade strop all over Europe with me a few months ago. Clipped each end to opposite corners of the fabric lining of my suitcase. With a little slack in the middle to allow it to flex, it made it through a bunch of flights unscathed.

You can coil it for travel, but you have to be very careful about it. As northpaw says, coiling it too tightly one way results in micro-tears to the stropping surface (which are hard to fix) while coiling it the other way too tight results in separation of the stropping surface from the rest of the leather, forming bumps and ripples (which CAN'T be fixed, at all, no matter what you try). If you must coil it, coil it loosely, around something like a sleeping bag with a 1ft diameter. Alternatively, invest in a paddle strop for travel and leave the hanging strop for your shave den.

I always lat my strop flat across the top of my packed clothes when travelling. No issues so far, probably about 8 trips to and from Japan this way. And many weekend trips up to Maine as well.