Dip coating system with stepped apron recovery

A method of dip coating an article comprising the steps of:

• assembling a cooling system comprising a conveyor and at least one fan;
• assembling a container having opposing sides and a volume capable of holding a liquid coating material and at least one metal article to be coated by the liquid coating material, and a stepped apron adjacent at least one of the opposing sides of the container having a bottom adjoining one of the opposing sides of the container below the surface of the liquid coating material in the container and the stepped apron;
• filling the stepped apron with the liquid coating material to a depth sufficient to maintain the coating material in the liquid state and receiving the liquid coating material dripping from at least one coated article positioned above the stepped apron;
• and
• cooling the metal article to a temperature less than about 200° F. (about 93° F.);
• lowering the metal article into the container by using a support member to coat the article with the coating material;
• lifting the coated article above the liquid coating material surface and transferring the coated article from a position over the container to a position over the stepped apron using the support member;
• and
• holding the coated article over the stepped apron for a pre-determined period to allow excess coating material to drain off into the liquid coating material in the stepped apron.