Abstract: An external weld bead removal system for removing and chopping an external weld bead from a tube includes a weld bead cutting apparatus and a weld bead chopper apparatus for chopping the removed external weld bead. The weld bead cutting apparatus includes a cutting tool operative to cut and remove an external weld bead from a tube. The weld bead chopper apparatus, the weld bead chopper apparatus includes a first blade member, a second blade member mounted adjacent the first blade member, and a chopper actuator operable to forcibly rotate the first blade member about a rotation axis relative to the second blade member such that the first and second blade members cooperatively cut the removed external weld bead into smaller weld bead segments as the removed external weld bead is advanced through the chopper apparatus.