Chill roll casting of metal strip

A method for reliably casting a continuous metal filament employing a moving casting surface and means for depositing a stream of molten metal onto the casting surface to form the filament. A flexible, metallic mesh hugger belt, at least a portion of which is adapted to move at a velocity substantially equal to the velocity of the casting surface, entrains the filament against the casting surface to maintain cooling contact therewith and provides an entraining, hugger pressure which is sufficient to substantially prevent relative movement of the filament with respect to the casting surface and hugger belt. The hugger belt is also controlled to provide a hugger pressure sufficient to prevent the imposition of excessive forces within the filament during the cooling thereof.