A stand for exerting a forward or rearward drag upon metal strips or sheets, in particular for a plurality of narrow strips which are to be wound up together with separate braking drags being applied to each strip, between two oppositely disposed, endlessly circulating conveyor chain systems driven by chain wheels, wherein a belt arranged between at least one chain system and the metal strip prevents particles of dirt such as forging scale, zinc and tin fines, etc. from entering the chain case.