A cutting mechanism and method for a tooling head is provided, the tooling head including a housing; a cord line feeding passageway extending through the housing to an applicator end, and an applicator assembly at the applicator end for application of the cord line to an annular surface. The cutting mechanism provides a reciprocally moving plunger body housed within the tooling head; a reciprocating cutting member moving between a first position cutting the cord line and a second position in a non-cutting relationship with the cord line; a cutting member being coupled to the plunger body to translate reciprocal movement of the plunger body to reciprocal movement of the cutting member between the first and second positions. A stream of air may be directed into the cord line passageway proximate the cutting member to assist in threading a severed free end of the cord through the passageway to the applicator assembly.