[TheForge] Insurance (Re: Equipment for a newbie)

[Jerry Frost]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul N" <crosspein at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 6:07 PM
Subject: [TheForge] Insurance (Re: Equipment for a newbie)


> Is "don't ask, don't tell" the common approach to insurance for home 
> shops?
>
> I shop insurance was discussed some time ago. (I guess I should practice
> what I tell my kids: "Just because you're not interested now, doesn't
> mean you will never be. Pay attention!") And things change.
>
> Anyway, I'm hoping to build a "retirement" home in the next couple of
> years, with a stand-alone shop. As I get ready to inquire about
> insurance for my shop, what kinds of things should I ask? What topics
> should I avoid under the guise of "don't ask", and what kinds of
> alternative descriptions might be acceptable to make the shop insurable
> at an affordable rate?
>
> thanks,
> **paul
>
>

I don't recommend "don't ask don't tell" as a policy if you expect insurance 
to pay off on an accident involving whatever you're hiding from them. I 
probably shouldn't've said what I did but I did. I've been building and 
using propane burners for probably a good 20 years now and have never had an 
accident. I don't take that as a given though and don't take any chances 
anyway. Regardless of my record, knowledge, etc. we probably couldn't afford 
fire insurance on the house even though the forge isn't within 120' of it.

Even though I'm near anally careful with all my fire breathing tools I don't 
carry fire insurance on the shop at all. It's all steel and concrete outside 
the furniture, someday, interior walls and the firewood stack. Just being a 
hot shop, meaning welding and torchwork is enough to drive insurance rates 
up considerably. Heck, the wood stove will do that.

The last I heard ABANA was working on doing some collective bargaining on 
insurance for members. You might ask Paul or Rome.

Jer