Tips for turning hexagonal stock on a lathe?

[epanzella]

It's faster to make hex round than the reverse. Just stick the hex in a 3 jaw and turn away! To start with round and make it hex, you have to do the math, set up precisely 6 times, then turn the round part anyway as it will be bigger than the hex part if you don't.

 

[TTD]

I agree with @epanzella - throw your hex in the 3-jaw & go to town.

I also was a little leery my first time about the interrupted cuts on my little lathe, but as it turned out I was worried about nothing at all. Granted, I was only turning down 1” 6061 aluminum hex, but it was a piece of cake. I was being conservative seeing as it was my first try, but I think I started with .010” cuts until it was round, then .025” cuts after that.

A while back I needed to make an .850” o/d bolt knob & of course, didn’t have any 7/8” or 1” round bar left, but did have 6’ of 1” hex. Not the most efficient or cost effective way of going about it to be sure, but I got the job done nonetheless.

Pic of the leftover piece:

 

[Aaron_W]

I wasn't too worried about it, but never hurts to ask. Thanks for the help.

Also I see what I did on the Hex measurement. Brain disconnected from the eyes. The diagram shows corner to corner, but then goes on to show that distance is greater than flat to flat....