A new process for developing customized coatings, referred to as Conforma Clad (trademark) coatings, is outlined. The process utilizes a conformable cloth comprised of the appropriate metal and/or ceramic powders mixed with very low percentages of a binder. Wear-resistant coatings are developed by placing a cloth containing hard particles over the area to be coated and overlaying it with a cloth containing a braze-type alloy. On subsequent passage through a controlled atmosphere furnace, the braze alloy melts and is drawn into the interstices of the hard-particle-containing cloth by capillary forces. By varying the physical and chemical characteristics of the powders and the ratio of the constituents that make up the composite coating, final properties can be customized for the end application. Other advantages of this process over traditional welding and thermal spraying techniques are its ability to coat selected areas, high materials utilization since cloth remnants can be easily recycled, materials flexibility, coatings in a wide range of thicknesses and the ability to provide coatings with a residual compressive stress. An added advantage displayed with the composite Conforma Clad coatings is the excellent edge and dimensional tolerances that can be achieved. Coating porosities compare favorably with the best thermally sprayed deposits commercially available. Bond strengths are close to the highest available.