Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for protecting the supporting rolls of continuously moving freshly cast heavy metal strands (e.g., continuously cast billets and slabs), so that the rolls are not damaged by cutting torches while the strands being supported are being worked upon by those torches. This is achieved by sequentially pivoting individual ones of the supporting rolls out of the support path only momentarily as the cutting torch passes in the vicinity thereof, while continuously rotating the retracted support roll, and returning the roll to normal position after the torch has passed. Pivoting movement of a support roll, either in the retracting or return direction is caused to take place during the moments of highest exposure of the roll to flying slag from the torch in order to minimize the time of such exposure. This pivoting sequence of individual rolls takes place while still maintaining proper support of the strand by means of adjacent, operative support rolls.