Abstract: A coil of pre-lubed steel strip has a steel strip substrate coated on each surface with a uniform coating of solid lubricant. The coating has a coating weight greater than 20 mg/ft..sup.2 (0.22 g/m.sup.2) for lubricity during cold deforming of the strip, as by stamping or drawing. The coating weight is less than 100 mg/ft..sup.2 (1.08 g/m.sup.2) to prevent slippage during operations incident to blanking of the strip prior to cold deforming. The coating has a needle penetration hardness in the range 9-250. Various procedures for applying the coating are described.

Abstract: The molten exterior surface portion of a hot dip galvanized steel strip is solidified after the strip is withdrawn from a bath of molten zinc by spraying finely divided particles of a liquid nucleating agent for initiating solidification. The particles are sprayed into an electrostatic field alongside the strip. The particles are initially directed along a path which avoids impingement against the strip. However, the smaller particles are attracted to the strip under the influence of the electrostatic field, to initiate solidification. The larger particles have a momentum along their path large enough to resist the influence of the electrostatic field, thereby permitting the larger particles to continue along a path which avoids impingement. This minimizes the formation of undesirably large spangles and an undesirable surface appearance on the strip.