(57) Surfaces such as lead alloys, to which paint does not adhere well, have previously been shot blasted with an abrasive, cleaned and then coated with the pain or similar coating. It is now found that dry epoxy powder may be projected at high pressure at such surfaces and will form a conditioning layer to which paint will adhere well. The conditioning layer penetrates into the surface to form a mechanical bond. In one example, dry epoxy powder paint is projected by air at 5.5 bar pressure onto terne steel to condition it. This is followed by electrostatic coating with the same epoxy powder paint and heat treatment.