The method concerns thermal coating of bores, in particular, the cylinder sliding surfaces in cylinder-piston machines, according to which a powder material is sprayed in molten form is sprayed onto the bore surface by means of a burner introduced into the bore. The method is characterised by the fact that the bore (32) from one of its ends is flushed with a protective gas. The corresponding apparatus is characterised by a protective-gas supply unit (12) which tightly attached to one of the bore ends.
