Abstract: Process of and composition for forming a hard, rubber-like covering on the ends of metal rolls utilized in the textile, paper or other industry including the following. A semi-liquid, elastomeric, polymeric, coating composition is provided having a viscosity sufficient to prevent sagging from the ends of the metal roll when applied thereto while being sufficiently liquid to dispense easily in a continuous stream and being cross-linkable to form a hard, rubber-like material. Cement is applied onto the ends of the metal roll and the semi-liquid coating composition is applied onto the cemented ends. The coating composition is cross-linked by heating to cure and solidify the semi-liquid composition to form a hard rubber-like coating on the ends of the metal roll.