adjacent the exit section of second oven 18 at the first station 25 a suitable gas such as air is directed upwardly at composite strand 20 at a volume velocity and temperature sufficient to cool and support the composite strand 20 that is as composite strand 20 advances through the first cooling zone strand 20 substantially gently floats across the top of foraminous plate 29 through which a plurality of streams of air are upwardly directed toward the strand 20 foraminous plate 29 is suitably attached to housing 27 having a blower or fan 31 located therein to direct streams of air through plate 29 to cool and support coated strand 20 upon leaving the first cooling zone 25 at least a skin has formed on the outer surface of the composite strand 20 that is at least the outer surface of the coating on the strand is at a temperature below the deformation temperature of the coating material it would be possible but impractical to entirely cool the coated strand using the above described air table technique to decrease the amount of physical space needed to cool the strand it is desirable to use a liquid such as water to cool the strand however it has been found that the application of a stream.