A method to facilitate electrochemical coatings from a non-aqueous, poorly conductive (and therefore normally difficult to work with) electrolyte is presented. The process involves loading the electrolyte with pretreated ion-exchange beads to provide multiple low-resistivity paths for ionic but not electronic conduction between a counter-electrode and workpiece. Using the formation of iron phosphate conversion coatings from an oil-based lubricant as a test case, the effects of bead moisture content and oil additive concentration on the coating process are described. With this new approach electrochemical coating is possible, even in poorly conductive fluids, over a far larger range of electrode separations than could otherwise be accomplished.