In a discharge coating apparatus a vibrational motion in the longitudinal direction of coating material electrode (2), such as to break the surface of a workpiece (1) at its point, and a suitable voltage pulse, synchronized with the above vibration, are applied to form a coating layer (3) by a melt-adhered portion of the coating material electrode on the surface of the workpiece due to the heat produced. An additional transverse motion is applied to the coating material electrode which is thus relatively moved along the workpiece surface. The coating material electrode comes into contact with the workpiece surface not perpendicularly but at a fixed angle thereto and is then removed from its surface.
This additional motion is preferably a rotation around the central shaft of the coating material electrode. The coating material electrode may be formed with a concave portion or hole along its rotational centre. A skipping mechanism consisting of an elastic member is provided between the electrode rotating apparatus and the electrode to prevent the vibrations of the coating material electrode and the portion that vibrates together therewith from being transferred to or acting on the drive section for applying the rotational motion.