The hot air knife (HAK) is an optional or retrofitting device mounted to the strand die head of dry cut strand pelletizing systems which efficiently removes melt residues, outgassing remains, and die drools (such as build up of glass fibers) from both the die holes in the die plate as well as from the extruded strands themselves. With the hot air knife, product contamination can be reliably prevented and disruptions to production minimized.