A flow control device for the outlet (14) of a molten metal handling vessel (10) is provided for use towards the end of the pouring of molten metal through the outlet. The device (22) has a head portion (25) and a tail portion (26) with flow channels (25c) defined between the head and tail portions to reduce vortex effects in the molten metal (20), the tail portion (26) being contoured to fit into a correspondingly contoured entrance (19) to the outlet (14) with the flow channels (25c) leading into the outlet (14) and the device (22) being attached to a refractory positioning means (23) whereby it can be fitted into the outlet (14) during flow of the molten metal (20) through the outlet (14). |