Abstract: A high speed device (10) for safely removing residual yarn (18) from a paper tube (16) without damage to the latter is provided which includes a specialized multiple-blade cutting assembly (20) serving to completely strip yarn from the tube (16) without tangling. The overall device (10) includes a mandrel assembly (14) for supporting a tube (16) to be processed, together with a shiftable carriage (94) supporting the cutting assembly (20) for axial movement of the latter along the length of the tube (16). The cutting assembly (20) has a high speed, metallic leading cutting blade (68) together with a relatively low speed, synthetic resin trailing cutting blade (70) presenting a serrated outer periphery. The leading blade (68) is oriented slightly above the outer surface of the tube (16) for cutting the majority of the residual yarn (18), whereas the trailing blade (70) is positioned for contacting the tube (16) and removing any yarn remnants (18a).