In this study, presintered low purity alumina ceramics were machined with various tools to clarify the effects of the tool material, cutting condition and tool geometry on machinability. The main conclusions obtained were as follows. (a)The wear of tungsten carbide tool becomes smaller with the increase of the feed and clearance angle, and with the decrease of rake angle, especially exhibiting considerably smaller wear with both the decrease of rake angle and the increase of clearance angle. (b) So far as turning the ceramic presintered at low temperature, the diamond tool shows the best performance with higher feed. (c) The effect on the tool wear of the feed, clearance angle and rake angle becomes smaller in turning the ceramic presintered at higher temperature. (d) The tool wear is not severely affected by the depth of cut.