A coating apparatus and method of using for use in dip coating an article may have a container with opposing sides and a volume capable of holding a liquid coating material and at least one article to be coated by the material, and a stepped apron adjacent at least one of the opposing sides of the container, the stepped apron capable of holding the liquid coating material to a depth sufficient to maintain the material in the liquid state and receiving the liquid coating material dripping from at least one coated article positioned above the stepped apron; and at least one support member above the container capable of holding at least one article to be coated by dipping in the container. The apparatus may include localized heating of the article, such as by spot welding, and air cooling of the article using a cooling system having at least one fan and a conveyor before the article is dipped in the container containing the liquid coating material and subsequently dried.