Abstract: A trimming apparatus and method for cutting a strip of sheet material, such as wood veneer, is described including a clipping trash gate. A strip cutter including a cutter knife mounted on the trash gate for pivotal movement and a stationary cutter member cooperate to cut defective trash portions from the strip as it is conveyed past the trash gate. The trash gate opens to discharge the trash portions from the strip path through the gate. The stationary cutter member is made of soft plastic material, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The stationary cutter element is cut by the knife blade to form the cutting edge of such stationary cutter member and to simultaneously accurately align it with the knife blade cutting edge. The cutting edge of the knife blade is spaced from the stationary cutter member by a distance which is tapered along the length of the knife for progressive engagement of the knife cutting edge with the stationary cutter member to provide a scissor cutting action.