Opinions on Helmets,,,Insurance

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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