This invention relates to an apparatus for vapor lubrication comprising a chamber, a diffuser plate having an array of orifices, a shutter plate having substantially the same pattern of orifices as that of the diffuser plate, a holder for holding an object to be vapor coated in the chamber, and an actuator to move the shutter plate to align the array of orifices of the shutter plate with the array of orifices of the diffuser plate or at least partially block the array of orifices of the diffuser plate with the diffuser plate.