Lathe advice please

[piesoup]

Hello Everyone
I am looking for a lathe that will mainly be used to turn alloy but also small bits of Ti for bike bling! I'd like my frist lathe to be one that will keep me going for a good number of years. Spending some inheritence money you see.
I'm not to worried about the actual sive but obviously the bigger I go the more rigid and robust it'll be. I like the Comet as it is reported to be very rigid and the powered feeds are a lovely bonus.
http://www.chesteruk.net/store/comet_variable_speed_lathe_450mm.htm
This Sieg C6 is the same but £100 more??!
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-SIEG-Axminster-SIEG-C6B-Variable-Speed-Lathe-377299.htm
Thing is, I started looking at the smaller Conquest and Sieg C2 but thought if I spend a little more I can get a bigger one, spend a bit more and I can get an even bigger and better one etc! It never ends with me! I have got a carbonfibre mountain bike because of this condition when a nice simple alloy one would have surficed!
I have got about £1000 to spend and wouldnt mind getting a smallish mill to complement it.
Lathe/mill combo, heard both good and bad things about them. Anyone here got a good 'un?
So...is the Comet over kill for what I said I want to use it for or are you going to just comfirm what I'm thinking and say its a good investment!!:thumbsup:
Thank you

 

[trout]

Hi Piesoup .
I can give you a bit of advise and that is dont get a Clarke mini lathe from machine mart.

I started with one of those and it was great untill I started getting ambitious and quickly realised its limitations and cheese drive system.

Then I was Given this old girl
it is a Smart and Brown Sable and I think must be over 60 years old

Now I have used it for 6 months and cannot believe how good it is.

 

[piesoup]

Wow, she's a beaut! Those older ones just keep on going! With constant TLC I suppose.
I know what you mean about the Clarke range, read some reviews on them and didn't get a very good write up. I did an aprenticeship as a bench fitter about 8 years ago so I can apreciate a good solid lathe! Never combo machine so not sure how well they perform.