Knifemaking/Bladesmithing and Insurance.

[Rick Marchand]

Actually that would be a farrier Rick Sorry, I just liked the irony.

Yup, I know what at a farrier is and mentioned it in the first post(we actually have two working in my county, here). These folks didn't and used "blacksmith" when talking to me. I didn't bother correcting that because I knew it would just confuse them even more. In their minds, blacksmiths shoe horses and I was proposing a stinky drive-thru eyesore in the middle of their artsy town. The funniest part is that they have a rather famous pewtersmith in town who is basically doing with his craft, what my proposal suggests. I spoke with them and they were very helpful and encouraging. I need to speak with them about insurance.

I wanted to add that the insurance company knows exactly what I do and all the equipment I use in the building.
Scott

It is good to hear stuff like this. My priorities are to get a separate shop(studio) and look into business insurance.

Well as expected, when I said I made knives, the lady at the insurance office reacted like I had just told her I knitted underwear from nose hairs of albino pygmy baboons! She asked me 3 times if I had a commercial sign after I told her it was a hobby I did in my garage in a residential neighborhood. She will get back to me.

Well, she didn't blacklist you right then and there.... so maybe there is still hope for you, Patrice.

Rick, contact the Nova Scotia center for craft and Design, they might be able to give you some names or at least an idea of where to go. http://www.craft-design.ns.ca/ If they can't help or if you want more info, the Maritime Blacksmiths Association should definitely be able to help. Yes, I know, not a blacksmith however, you still deal with flames and hot metal. Im sure they get insured somehow. http://maritimeblacksmiths.ca/clinker/

I have been in contact with them for other reasons and will definately bring up the insurance concerns with them. Thanks, bud. We may be neighbors soon!

 

[12345678910]

I think the problem is that they need to classify what you do so they can look you up in an actuarial table.

Bladesmith, outside the ABS is a pretty scarce term.

Welder would be on that list, but it would work against you in terms of zoning, industrial/commercial/residential.

How about artist - metal sculpture artist ?
That covers lots of ground, allows you to change your product line for variety - sales

It may also get you some government grants too.

It should cover a forge, torch, welder, press.... whatever you use now or in the future.

Specifically in the east cost, how about asking Jake Powning?
I can't find any mention of his address on Facebook, or his website, but he may be in NS ?

 

[joeyp1971]

What Nick said is really the bottom line: "No matter what you do, the insurance company is going to try to screw you."

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Bad news, looks like you will have to put up with me for a little while longer.

Company called and as long as it's a hobby and that they know about the the different machines used, it's ok. I think they could care less about the specifics of exactly what type of metalwork I do. She said the main problem I could have is with the value of things, so to keep receipts and pics is a good idea.

So Rick, want me to start scouting houses around here for you?

 

[12345678910]

Bad news, looks like you will have to put up with me for a little while longer.

Company called and as long as it's a hobby and that they know about the the different machines used, it's ok. I think they could care less about the specifics of exactly what type of metalwork I do. She said the main problem I could have is with the value of things, so to keep receipts and pics is a good idea.

So Rick, want me to start scouting houses around here for you?

But you have to keep them outside the house.

If you burn it down, the receipts and photos are gone too.

If you can get a safety deposit box, I think those are a pretty good value.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Sam, I do both. One copy in the house in a fire retardant box and also a safety deposit box, although this one is not updated as often. Thinking about maybe using one of those clouds backup thingies for the pics.

 

[Brian Ayres]

Sam, I do both. One copy in the house in a fire retardant box and also a safety deposit box, although this one is not updated as often. Thinking about maybe using one of those clouds backup thingies for the pics.

Shop tour pics of your shop, weekly WIP posts and all your pics will be one here!

Nice..I got the same info on my renters insurance. I'm good to go on my policy.
I've had mine for 6 months, interestingly enough, since mine's in an office trailer, I also have auto coverage on mine.....

 

[P. McKinley]

Quote Originally Posted by tattooedfreak
Rick, contact the Nova Scotia center for craft and Design, they might be able to give you some names or at least an idea of where to go. http://www.craft-design.ns.ca/ If they can't help or if you want more info, the Maritime Blacksmiths Association should definitely be able to help. Yes, I know, not a blacksmith however, you still deal with flames and hot metal. Im sure they get insured somehow. http://maritimeblacksmiths.ca/clinker/

Rick - I am a member artist of the Cape Breton Center of Craft and Design (where I have my work on display), an affiliate of the N.S.C.C.D. While I have insurance through my home owner's policy, they can help with your obtaining a workshop policy. Good folks to know.

Also, you might want to contact Grant Haverstock, President of the Cape Breton Blacksmith Assoc. - and affiliate of the Maritime B.A. Grant ownes and operates Firehouse Ironworks in Whycocomagh, Cape Breton (http://www.firehouseironworks.com/FireHouse_Ironworks/FireHouse_Ironworks.html). He has some info for you on this matter.

Or..... call me, I just spoke with him and I have some names for you.

 

[Josh Dabney]

Thats GREAT news Pat !

Sooooooooooo glad I don't have to start a "Patrice Lemee Detached and insurable knifeshop fund"

Whew, One less thing to do right !

-Josh

 

[Patrice Lemée]

You know Josh, if it means keeping you busy, you can go ahead and start the fund anyway.

 

[Josh Dabney]

With my 97% Managment Salary and 2% Processing fee and .75% Expense account it may take awhile for our "Charity" to reach our goals

But hey, I'm game if you are

-Josh

 

[Douglas Stice]

Hello all,

This is my first post on the forums (last time I did this they were called BBS's...)

Great Topic Rick! I am posting to relate my experience with this. Just mailed a check to my new insurance company tonight.

Months ago, I began looking into getting liability insurance and equipment coverage for my knife making business. I contacted my homeowner's insurance agent (my company has the initials SF) and after a bit of research, my agent reported to me that they did not have the ability to offer me insurance. I continued my search elsewhere.

3 weeks ago, I received a letter from SF stating that they would be cancelling my homeowner's insurance if I did not secure liability insurance within 30 days. What a surprise that letter was!

During the last 3 weeks I contacted over 10 insurance companies about insurance for my business. Most flatly stated that they would not insure a knife maker! The others took forever getting back to me with quotes ranging from $700/year to $2500/year. (It seems that if I make only "kitchen cutlery", not pocket knives or hunters, almost everyone would cover me.)

In the past, I checked with the Guild to see if they had a group insurance available... Nope...

This is a major problem for our industry - we need to find a solution, one that is affordable and available.

(steps off of soapbox...)

Thanks for letting me vent a bit - and thanks for bringing up this topic, Rick!


- Doug

 

[Rick Marchand]

Thanks Doug... I checked out your site... your shop looks like a hospital operating room! I am VERY leery about mentioning anything to my home owner's insurance, until I separate from the house and get business coverage.

Patrice... I am happy you got it covered(pardon the pun).

 

[Douglas Stice]

your shop looks like a hospital operating room!

Hoping this is a compliment! Heh!

 

[Rick Marchand]

Hoping this is a compliment! Heh!

It sure was. The cleanliness rivals Nick's place.:thumbup:


I've done some more investigating...
What I need to do before approaching insurance, is get my forging area detached from the house. If another party is covering the separate shop, my household insurance SHOULD have no problem with it... but you never know. Sounds like I may need to get away from the "city-minded" insurance companies.

 

[Burchtree]

Finding business insurance has been a thorn in my side. They think I'm building "weapons" when I tell them what I do and it goes downhill from there. You gotta be honest though because they will send someone out to make sure you've got fire extinguishers, etc.

 

[NickWheeler]

Rick, this is going to sound smart a** but it's not... Just how separate do they have to be, according to the people you've spoken with?

Simply a separate structure, separate by a certain amount of distance, or on a totally different property than your home? My new shop is a freestanding, stick-built structure, but one corner of it is only about 10' from one corner of our attached garage, and that has been "not separate enough" with the agents I've talked to so far. :grumpy:

Mind you, I wouldn't have built the shop that close to the house if it had been my decision... but that doesn't seem to affect the insurance folks' opinion.

 

[Rick Marchand]

Nick... Wally's shop is in an all-steel barn 200ft from his house. He was denied insurance and almost lost his mortgage. This is the kind of stuff that scares the hell out of me.

I do not like withholding information or being cleverly vague.... but when it comes to being a victim of ignorance, you have to do what you have do! I just want insurance for my house and family. I can stand losing my shop... not being able to get a mortgage is a bit more difficult.

Yet, if I were a glass-blower, welder, auto mechanic, electroplater, potter/ceramist.... no problem.

 

[Patrice Lemée]

Nick... Wally's shop is in an all-steel barn 200ft from his house. He was denied insurance and almost lost his mortgage...

There is just something wrong there Rick. I would have taken this up with the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Y'all need to move here. No such problems and I can be an apprentice.

 

[Rick Marchand]

Patrice... What do you think the answer would have been if you said that you made knives for a living?