Sodium tetraborate based carrier coatings for wire drawing are prepared by dispersing a water insoluble fatty acid metal salt in a sodium tetraborate coating bath. The carrier coatings on rod are made resistant to atmosphere moisture by heating at an elevated temperature. Carrier coatings on wire rod provide a vehicle to pick up the wire drawing lubricant in the soap box and carry the lubricant into the die. Since the coated wire rod is often stored for long periods between coating and drawing it is susceptible to corrosion from atmospheric moisture.
