Opinions on Helmets,,,Insurance

[mikeswelding]

Insurance

I had the same problem when I opened my own shop three years ago. I wasn't even going bother, until some high-profit jobs required it.
So first, go to an independent agency and let them do the legwork.
Next, stay away from mentioning that you might work on high-risk jobs like hitches, tanks, hoists, etc. Decorative work does not raise as many flags. Mention safety aspects of shop (fire extinguishers and anything else you can think of). Once I got these figured out, I have had no trouble.

[Jetmekdc-10]

Mike, I have an independent agent working on it. He is as frustrated as I am. I asked a few of the locals who they are using and none of them are insured. My LLC came in yesterday and I am applying for my license with the county tommorrow. I really wanted to put on my ad's that I was insured but its not looking too good. I had one insurance company consider me. They did want to know what types of things I would be welding. I told them I was just going to do trailer repairs. We'll see what happens, Thanks for the input, Adam

[calweld]

Everybody else here has talked about hoods,,, a few suggestions about insurance.

Maybe it's too late, but whatever your business name, don't put "welding" in it. Call it "fabrications", "repairs", "enterprises", etc., but not welding. Depending on the nature of your work, sometimes a good agent can reclassify you as something else, which could make it easier and cheaper. As long as there's no fraud involved, and you're not doing something specifically excluded in the policy, you're covered. Theoretically, you could open a flower shop, and do a little minor welding out back, and still be covered.

Most "name" insurance companies won't even consider you until you have a couple years insurance history, and the "loss runs" to back it up. Your agent may have to research some lower grade companies, even possibly the off-shore ones. This is what I did years ago when starting out, had no idea if I was really covered, just wrote it up as part of a necessary business investment.

My business is 100% commercial, when I need to find a company or agent I don't talk to other welders, I ask around with other business owners, certain agents are very good with commercial lines, most aren't. The big money and volume is with life, health, auto, and homeowners, easy money, just fill in the forms, very few agents have the connections, ambition, work ethic, and knowledge to properly take care of some of the riskier commercial stuff.

"Decorative" is not necessarily considered lower-risk. As soon as hand-rails, deck-railing, patio furniture, etc. starts being mentioned, liability starts going up, especially if anything is being done above-grade. Use caution here.

Just to establish my credentials .... I've been in business now for twenty-some years, buying insurance the whole while. Also, my wife works for a major insurance company, commercial division, has helped me fill in the blanks about how it works. Unfortunately, when we first met, she told me "Two things we don't like, roofers and welders." So she's no help at all to me ....

[Miller Helmet]

Helmet Information

While I don't have any advice on insurance, I can provide a little information about welding helmets.

First, the reason that Miller Electric Mfg. uses green as the shade for the lens is that green is picked up by the human eye better than any other color. This green produces the best possible condition for a welder to see their surroundings and also the weld due to the color of the light reaching the eye.

We also have our outside lenses curved in our helmets to help reduce the chance that spatter gets lodged on the lens if you are welding out of position. As you can see, there are as many opinions as there are welders, but we have heard from a lot of welders that like the curved cover plate because it reduces glare. As with anything, everyone's eyes are different and are susceptable to different conditions.

Our line of helmets features a light state of 3 with shade ranges from 8-13 to offer the clarity that many welders require. We are confident that our clarity is among the best in the auto-darkeing market, but if possible, I would try a couple helmets out at your local distributor so that you can compare them side to side.

If you have any other questions, please post them and I will respond as soon as I can. Good luck in your search for a helmet!

Thank You,
MillerHelmet

[calweld]

Millerhelmet, while I can see your rational for the curved cover lens, I have to admit, I also use the Nextgen filter ... big reason is the standard cover plates are available everywhere, I work in California, Oregon, and Nevada, anywhere I go I can find cover plates, don't have to worry about what dealer or brand it is. Cost also is a factor, standard/common = cheap. And on my daily driver, space is at a premium, the standard flat cover plates I buy fifty to a box, easy to put the whole box in the truck, stores away very nicely. Just giving you another viewpoint here .......

[bryce_burden]

Must be nice to have even an autodarkening hood of any kind. I'd like to have one but yet to figure out how i can manage to afford one. Guess I'll just stick with my $10 Atwoods special for a while longer.

[man of steel]

helmets and insurance

i have gone through many types of helmets but i would say you get what you pay for (swiss optics arent cheap) and your eyes are indespensable. the miller elite are a descent helmet (i havent had any problems) and it does respond nicely to low amps when tig welding .also i like the 4 independant sensors ,it really helps when your in awkward spots and the 2 sensors are blocked.As for insurance , ive read a few responses from guys saying just dont put welding in the name, id like to know what your going to tell the owner of a building you flood or blow apart that you were fabricating or plumbing something.when the insurance adjustor asks what started the fire? what are you going to say even better what do you do when they refuse your claim due to misrepresentation? this is serious business and if you cant afford to tell your customer or insurance company whom you pay to watch your back and your business interests then you dont belong in with the big boys and should move back down to the bush leagues. i paid over 16 grand last year alone and it increased from 9 to 12 to 16 grand in as many years from mickey mouse operators out there burning things down thinking they know what they are doing. Bottom line is "would you do business with someone whose honesty and integrity is questionable? Plus i wouldnt want to see the law suites that would come from these types of really poor judgement calls. honesty is the best policy my friends
be well

[tnjind]

man of "steel"

I am also looking for the same answers to the insurance questions.
I am not some fly by night idiot. My work is a reprsentation of my name and my abilities. I am by no means a true "professional" but that being said, I will not do any fabricating that may harm someone if it fails.(if I do it then it will not fail)..

Sorry guy if this sounds harsh.
The question was about insurance, I am also looking for answers.

[calweld]

manofsteel: Like many on these boards, you seem to have an English reading comprehension problem. Please go back, read my post, word for word, letter for letter if necessary, get help if you need it, it's available, there are "english as a second language" classes in almost every state in this Union. [ EDIT:::: Sorry, I see your location, maybe English isn't your language???? ] I very specifically said "as long as there's no fraud involved",,,, and "you're not doing something specifically excluded" both of which would seem to cover "misrepresentatation",,,, would it not?????? Many times a guy may consider himself a "welder", say a guy building fences, spends maybe 5% of his time building corner posts, the rest of the time stretching wire. Or say somebody doing trailer or truck repairs, happens to have a welder on his rig, happens to spend more time doing brake work or air-line work than welding. Or machinery installation, millright work, more electrical, plumbing, wrench work than welding. Welding may be the most critical skill in all of this, but all and any of these occupations can better be classified otherwise, perhaps with a lower liability rating.

And by the way, I do all of the above, in addition to welding, but since I have "welding" in my business name, I pay top dollar for insurance for everything I do, whether there is any welding liability involved or not, even if I just tighten a bolt, or bang a nail, and have been doing so for the last twenty-plus years.

[Harvuskong]

I can't even give it away!

Whoa there, I might be interested. You still have it??

[man of steel]

calweld

whats with the remarks about my english there calweld?i have friends in the insurance game and want people to know how to protect themselves and their clients, as for help you should watch your words ,but then again when your soo far away and hiding behind a computer screen i guess with your limited intelligence( i see where your from)TRAILER ALLEY?
WHAT DO YOU WELD?trailers or fences?
i bet a rambling goof like yourself doesnt even hold a ticket for anything except maybe the circus, so if youd like to start off again, a simple apology will do,cause your attempt and your condascending remarks were uncalled for,so think about how you treat people,because with your attitude i doubt you have many if any clients that would do business with you for long.And I know that i can weld circles around you so maybe get some help with that ,they offer courses everywhere in your union there and if you really want to i could fly you up here and give you a schooling in welding and perhaps a boxing lesson or 2(either way youll be seeing bright lights)so please have some respect before you lose credibility and your business
written with love lol

[calweld]

Huh???? We strike a nerve there, boy????

[Shane]

i got a question? i have been using a cheaper harbor freight band helment that costed 70.00. it is an autodark ajustable shades 9-13. i am wondering if these helments are any good. i mean i havent had anyproblems with it yet but could it be doing somthin to my eyes. im 17 and i plan of welding as a profession and can get a possible job as a welder after school but im thinking of buying an miller performance series helment. anyone have one? how good are they. i assume its alot better then what i got now. thanks

[opsranch]

Hoods and insurance

Insurance for any high risk business is very important. My partner and I have been "officially" in the yacht repiar business for 3 years. 4 years ago we started the process of getting insurance. It took a year and a lot of work. Do go with an independant BROKER. Do not think that these companies are stupid. You will get a questionaire about what type of work you will be doing. Welding, brazing, and soldering were three of the things the questionare asked about. We do aluminum and stainless fabrication, but that might be 5% of our work. Be prpared to write a big check. Then don't do anything that you are not specifically insured for. A friend in the same business had a claim for something he was specifically covered for. He now out of business. Its worth the work and money to do it right, and I'm told by the broker we should see a reduction in rates next year. (No claims yet).

As far as hoods, Speedglas is the only way to in my opinion. They are light, slim, and very rugged. Buy the right one first, you'll save lots of money no buying cheap and being unhappy.

Good luck.


Bob