A process for coating a metal fastener with a coating composition that has a particular affinity for plaster materials is disclosed. The composition comprises a mixture of a copolymer of an aromatic monomer, preferably styrene, and a monomer with .alpha., .beta. unsaturation with carboxyl groups, preferably maleic anhydride, and a thermoplastic resin disposed within an organic solvent. The resin is preferably polyvinyl acetate, and the solvent can be an aromatic solvent, a ketone, a chlorohydrocarbon, or a mixture there of. The coating composition is disposed within a reservoir, and the fastener is dipped into the composition within the reservoir. The coated fastener is then subsequently dried at approximately ambient temperature.