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, comprises 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; and the ceramic honeycomb body being held by pressing the abutting surfaces of the first and second fixing jigs to both end surfaces of the ceramic honeycomb body, such that the center axis of the ceramic honeycomb body is substantially in alignment with the main axis of the lathe.