PURPOSE: To easily provide a machining start hole in a work, by providing a perforating pipe electrode in the point end of a machining start perforating member, injecting machining fluid from the pipe electrode and causing an electric spark discharge between the electrode and the work.

CONSTITUTION: A work 6 is fixed to a prescribed position in a mounting bed 4 by using a clamp 5. A machining start perforating member 20 is mounted to a moving member 18 in the end part of a column 1, and a pipe electrode 21 is provided in the end of said perforating member 20, while machining fluid is injected from its point end toward the work. Positioning of the electrode 21 is performed to a desired position in the work 6, under a condition the machining fluid is injected, a spark discharge is caused between the work 6 and the electrode 21 to perforate a machining start hole in the work. A wire electrode 7 is extended through from a lower side of the above described hole to perform electric discharge machining.