They work fine in a cool climate, as long as they are not manufactured in Asia. Don't get sucked in by made in USA, THere is a city in China named Usa, but product labels have the name capitalized.
Sweet. What brand of bender is that?
Sooooo Right! And you waste a lot of tubing trying to figure out getting the bend in the right spot, especially if you need more than one bend per piece of tubing. One of the back issues of FOUR WHEELER or 4WHEEL&OFF-ROAD had a nice tech article on...
There aren't any cheap benders that are up to it. http://www.lowbucktools.com/ has some. The Hausfeld bender is the one I have. Dies for good benders cost more than cheap benders.
I have one exactly like that and it's a Harbor Freight clone of the one that Shop Outfitters has been selling for years. It's fine for ornamental iron or light fabricating.
No offence but I suggest an alternative to keeping your jack lubricated. Keep it clean! If it's clean it won't collect dirt etc.. This way it can be left outside indefinately. Lube it when you use it. If you have nothing else to use, PISS ON IT! Seriously! Any liquid will work: oil, shampoo...
I don't recommend going alone, but, when I do I take 2 hi-lift jacks. Also, I always pack a chain. Not to yank with. I use it when I have to belay or when I need to use something shorter than a strap.
Criminy! You might as well use roofing cement.
Eureka has always provided excellent products and they've been around longer than ALL the yuppie brands.