Abstract: Method and apparatus for the removal of tobacco cuttings in the wrapper cutting portion of a cigar making machine in which a hollow, rotatable die turret having a pair of hollow die units on its upper surface, air openings at its lower surface and passageways from such openings to the interior of the units, is rotatably mounted on a stationary support having a pair of air chambers therein with openings in the upper wall thereof which permit air to flow into or out of the turret passageways through the openings at its lower surface at various portions of the cycle of rotation of the turret. Each die unit has holes around the periphery of the cutting edge which extend into the die unit interior. One of the chambers is kept continuously under vacuum so that during part of the rotation of the turret, air is drawn through the die unit holes to maintain a strip of tobacco on top of a die unit.