A method for producing a ceramic honeycomb body having large numbers of longitudinal cells partitioned by cell walls, with its peripheral portion removed by machining, includes rotatably holding the ceramic honeycomb body on a main axis of a lathe, and rotating the ceramic honeycomb body around the main axis, to remove its peripheral portion by machining with a tool; the lathe comprising a first fixing jig on the main axis, and a second fixing jig substantially opposing the first fixing jig; each of the first and second fixing jigs having an abutting end portion opposing each other, the abutting end portion having a smaller outer shape than that of the end surface of the ceramic honeycomb body, and the abutting portion having a substantially flat abutting end surface perpendicular to the main axis.