The cutting experiments of three kinds of free-cutting steels 12L14, 12L14+Te (0.017) and 12L14+Te (0.05) with different Te contents were carried out by using cemented carbide tools to study the tool life, tool wear states and reasons when cutting free-cutting steels with different Te contents. The experimental results show that the tool life of cutting 12L14+Te (0.017) is longer, the life tool of cutting 12L14+Te (0.05) is shorter, and the tool life of cutting 12L14 without Te element is between the two. The addition of Te element in the cutting process can play a role in reducing wear, but at the same time it can also reduce the formation of tool debris, so the tool life is the result of the combination of the two factors.