Thin alumina coatings were prepared on carbide tools to enhance their wear-resistant ability by dip coating from an aluminum alkoxide solution. The coating eventually obtained was perfectly integrated, without any macroscopic defect, and showed good performance in turning medium carbon steel, which presented a novel and promising coating method for cutting tools. The coating morphology before and after heat treatment was examined with the aid of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The composition of coating and interface layer as well as the crystal structure of coating was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The elemental distribution near the interlayer was analyzed by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). Thin alumina coatings were prepared on carbide tools to enhance their wear-resistant ability by dip coating from an aluminum alkoxide solution. The coating has been perfectly integrated, without any macroscopic defect, and showed good performance in turning medium carbon steel, which presents a novel and promising coating method for cutting tools. The coating morphology before and after heat treatment was examined with the aid of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The composition of coating and interface layer as well as the crystal structure of coating was characterized by X -ray diffraction (XRD). The elemental distribution near the interlayer was analyzed by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA).