Gear Driven Engine Stands worth it?

[565bbchevy]

I am going to buy an extra engine stand for my new big block build since I currently only have one 4 legged stand which is maybe 1000 lbs. capacity but since I have to swap parts between both big blocks I will need another.
At first I was thinking about getting a 2000 lb. folding stand but have also thought about a gear driven style to make my life easier for the new engine.
One of my concerns is mounting the engine to the geared stand since normally I remove the mount from the stand and bolt it the block and just put the stand on while the engine is still hanging on the picker.
I am used to turning over a fully loaded big block manually so I am wondering if it is worth the extra expense.
One I was looking at was Summits which appears to be made by Sunex:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-908300ga

 

[pontiacgp]

I mount the engine stand to the block the same way you do. The one from summit looks nice but I wonder how manageable it is to get it bolted to the block. I know your building a BB but with the aluminum heads wouldn't the weight of the engine be comparable the SBC? .All of the reviews are good but no one talks about mounting it to the block. I would stick with a 4 legged stand.

 

[Ribbedroof]

FWIW, I bought the Harbor Freight (yeah, I know) heavy one. Very pleased with it so far, and I like that the mast is angled back like my buddy's ex-cell stand (that they no longer market).

Pretty much all the stands on the market appear to be very similar, until you get to the stupid money ones.

 

[Streetbu]

Once you have used a geared one, you'll never want to use anything else. That being said, how often do you build engines? I do one every 5-10 years, not enough to pay the extra and have to fight with mounting it....but damn they are nice to use!

 

[565bbchevy]

I don't build engines that often anymore just because I don't have the free time but I will be building an aluminum headed sbc within the next year.
I figure I could spend $119 on the folding 2 ton or for the extra $100 get the gear driven one.
I know shops probably use a commercial grade gear driven one versus the Summit one.
Here is the 2 ton I was looking at.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261642850796?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[MrSony]

I got just a derpy little AC Delco 95$ cheapo one from OReilly's. Had to drill holes into the little mount brakets to move the upper two of the four arms to line up with ANY of the bellhousing bolt holes on my buick, but it works. And I'm a youngin to flipping this thing around is pretty easy if my hands are clean, but Id love a gear one. I've seen some operated by powerdrill also.