Coiled valve metal mesh of great void fraction and lengthy dimension and having a continuum of interconnected metal strands is coated with an electrocatalytic coating from liquid composition. The coating operation proceeds by contacting the mesh with liquid coating composition while the mesh is maintained in coiled form. This highly efficient coating method is continued through a curing operation while further maintaining the coated mesh in coiled form. Pretreatment preceding coating operation, e.g., degreasing and etching, may also be accomplished without uncoiling of the mesh. The coated mesh can later be uncoiled and current distributors welded to it for use as an electrode, e.g., in cathodic protection.