[bruce991]

I am retired love to TIG in my unattached steel pole building. Have concrete floors and fire extinguishers. Never stick welding inside the structure. Offering my services to others seems to be a red flag for the insurance people. I was told my vehicles cannot be stored in same building with a welder unless a fire wall is installed. Among other requirements including separate business insurance and an LLC at the tune of $1000 a year minimum. So here I am worried of a loss to my structure for whatever reason and they know I like to weld, and a welder is in the garage. My agent bought one of my creations last summer. If I help a local out with a piece of art work or fix a small part in the garage I feel like some criminal now.

Thinking about just selling all and saying screw it. At minimum I will start to bring my inverter welder into the house and store it there when not in use. They can question why I have a bench and 11 R clamps all over all they want but a welder no, didn't see one in the fire investigation. One thing I have decided on is not asking for money but accepting a reasonable donation to the kitty.

What are your experiences just weld for yourself and practice, and keep under wraps hoping for the best? Or go all in LLC, business policies and all the crap with the structure being in compliance, and never make a dime.

[cj737]

The biggest downside to "Welding privately for money" is the liability. If you weld something and someone gets hurt as a result, you are potentially in VERY DEEP DOO DOO. Now, if you limit your welding to art and stuff, then the liability is nearly nonexistent. But there is NO WAY I'd weld anything that moves down the road, is relied upon for structural strength, or potential someone's safety without a Business License, Business Insurance, and reasonable certifications. That way you are covered when the Lawyers come.

As for complying with City/Municipal ordinances and building codes, If your home address isn't associated with your business address then I don't see where they can say a whole lot. Hang out a shingle and advertise, then you're into a whole different ball of wax and compliance can be enforced.

Privately, welding for yourself, does not require meeting Fire Codes. Your Homeowner's Policy should cover "fire by cause" and you should be exonerated if you took due care. TIG welding almost never sets anything on fire (except your own damn fingers). Stick, you're doing outside anyway so you're good there.

Don't know if any of that helps or not.

[Farmwelding]

Well all I have to say is you made a mistake letting the insurance company know. If I were you I would keep some repair stuff for your buddy ans screw the rest, unless you have a really solid business base and can add to the customers to make more money to make it worth your while.

[bruce991]

I am limiting myself to non critical type welding like mentioned artsy stuff etc. Certain I won't be getting rich.

[Rudy Ray]

Call it a hobby shop since it's all art stuff, advertise by word of mouth only, accept cash only and give no traceable receipts, ZERO signage, keep above reasonable safety equipment, and run with it. What they don't know won't hurt them or you.
Only if something goes wrong then the burden is on them to prove otherwise.

Also, when receiving cash as payment, do not deposit it, then there is no paper trail.

[Farmwelding]

Call it a hobby shop since it's all art stuff, advertise by word of mouth only, accept cash only and give no traceable receipts, ZERO signage, keep above reasonable safety equipment, and run with it. What they don't know won't hurt them or you.
Only if something goes wrong then the burden is on them to prove otherwise.

Also, when receiving cash as payment, do not deposit it, then there is no paper trail.

I agree if spent something were to happen but it shouldn't you could probably say you were practicing welding and probably get away with it.

[exnailpounder]

I weld in my garage. I only take cash. I got involved with others that only deal in cash. It's common for a homeowner to have a welder in their garage. Think outside the box and make money.

[Rudy Ray]

I agree if spent something were to happen but it shouldn't you could probably say you were practicing welding and probably get away with it.

"Your were welding on a personal project" is the only thing you need to say.

[PeteM]

I've never had much use for rules and regulations and tend to break them without even noticing.

FWIW- I do small stuff in my garage for cash, sometimes with my car in it. I don't ask what the insurer does in their house, so...

[bruce991]

Wish it was that easy my agent said a guy just north of me burned his garage down welding his stuff, no payment was made, cause he had a welder. Didn't matter it was his stuff in his garage. Own a welder and guess your cursed.

[Rudy Ray]

Have you worked as a welder in the past? Does it matter if you are / were a "trained professional" ?

This is just one of the many reasons I dislike insurance companies, they have so many little loopholes and special clauses to get themselves out of any responsibility.

[homeboy]

I don't know any thing about the rules in other areas but here in Ontario Canada there are plenty of garage handymen and fixer-uppers that quietly go about their business part time. My opinion is common sense should prevail. If you are offered a job that you are not totally confident that you abilities and equipment can handle safely -graciously turn it down. Know your limits at the time and listen to your gut. Liability is a big issue that you have to weigh. Example- a local bubble gummer with I'am sure a 120 V rig welded a hub on a guys trailer- he made it about 3 mi. before it fell off!! Lucky there was no injury or accident.

[bruce991]

Common sense suggestions thanks. I have been TIG welding for mostly food industry purged food contact 3a std for 35 years. I am confident of my ability, among 12 skilled mechanics at my job, I was given most of the work that required good quality due to my skill level. I do not do stick arc anywhere indoors for the obvious reasons. I am not a certified welder by any means, but respect the process and those who have achieved this for the purpose of critical life dependent welding. I won't do automotive suspension members, trailers etc. Have been set up in my own garage for 13 months now and no close calls.

In relation to this subject has anyone actually shopped for insurance companies that embrace the hobby welder, machinist, wood worker hobby crowds? Now when I watch Youtube videos and it is some guy building a rail buggy in his attached garage I ask myself wow wonder if he knows what he is risking. Does his agent watch these videos. Do you think I could even get a insurance policy that wouldn't tell me to piss off in event of a loss cause I own a welder.? Or am I dreaming? I wonder if I were to bring my welder into house between jobs JIC I have a loss not related to welding at all, and they see my cart (empty) and argon bottle gauges, etc. would they try and use that as a reason to assume I was welding even if not welded in days. So many scenarios to consider. Then would I be risking a loss if my house burns down and I am storing my welder in the house? I could see them saying such a thing, "you must have been welding in your dining room". Then if I was rich I would just go with an LLC separate all assets, and get my business insurance and then go into deep debt LOL. Or build another garage for business. Not for this guy.

[ldbtx]

. . . In relation to this subject has anyone actually shopped for insurance companies that embrace the hobby welder, machinist, wood worker hobby crowds? . . .

Here in Texas, one of the more popular insurance companies amongst us rural folk, is Texas Farm Bureau. In addition to my home and truck insurance, they gladly wrote me a policy for the full replacement cost of my Miller Bobcat 225, including the trailer it's on. Regardless of what happens to it. I'm looking to buy another place and build a shop on it, so we'll see if their exemplary attitude continues. I figure it will. Don't know if you have a Michigan Farm Bureau, but if you do it might be worth talking to them.

Larry

[ex framie]

Bruce,
I'm a home hobby welder albeit in another country.
The only fires I have had has been caused by flux core mig and my own slackness/stupidity in not clearing a suitable area before I started. I now have a new process and about 4 fire extinguishers in my shed.
Vehicles get moved out of my shed when welding and I remove flammable stuff well away from where I'm welding.
I've never heard of a fire with tig. Someone must show me how they manage that with more than 2 functioning brain cells, not sitting in a puddle of gasoline.
Stick and mig are a bit more problematic.
You obviously have the experience to weld safely and within your capabilities, so carry on.
If the insurance company don't ask, don't tell.

"If the hairs on your arse smell like smouldering grass you're on fire."
Sung to the tune of "amore" ..........

Cheers

[exnailpounder]

I was mig welding today and lit one of my polishing wheels on fire. That wax really burns good

[bruce991]

We do have farm bureau will research. And as stated starting a fire with TIG would take effort.

[Poland308]

I use the Farm Bureau here in Iowa. My agent has been good to work with. There ok with my welders but they are balking at my wood burner just a bit. They want pics to make sure it's not up tight to a wood wall. Who would do that?

[homeboy]

A few years ago I had a homebuilt wood stove inspected in the shop and passed. The inspector was the local fire department safety inspector also and he told me some of the ridiculous things people do with wood burners up to the equivalent of putting heavy curtains over top. I guess I can understand why the rules-probably saved a few lives.

[bruce991]

Oh man my insurance company would not accept a wood stove in a garage, especially if vehicles are in the garage. I have a call out to Farm Bureau Insurance for a talk about my situation, and possible business licensing if that is not as costly as I was quoted by my current agent.