Hurricane Harvey Tool Loss

[06 DIESEL]

The tool policy you are looking for is called an inland marine policy. They cover tool losses for everything except nuclear war and unexplained loss. In order to get the insurance you have to send over pictures of every tool, and a spreadsheet that shows every tool, maker, part number, cost, and quantity of each you have. It will not cover items that are considered wear items like saw blades, sandpaper, etc unless you can prove that you always keep a minimum of a certain number of spares.

I used to have a policy when I was renting and my box was not at my house. Now that I own my own place I dropped the policy since I added a rider on my home policy. The policy was for about 50k worth of tools with a $500 deductible and it was about $250 a year.

 

[JohnDeere1]

I'm NOT a tech, and I have insurance on my tools. Blanket policy with $50,000 of coverage is like $10 a month. No brainer.

I need this who is it through and what do I gotta do seriously. Pm me

 

[JohnDeere1]

I have a power probe I'd come off of cheap and it's the hard to find green one in the case it's the kit I've never used it I bought it used but looks unused, let me know I'd do $30 shipped to you OP only if not I'm keeping it.

 

[smittyjones]

Did you bring some tool oil? I cannot fathom why you think the car dealer is on the hook for your tools. You could have picked them up before the storm.

I'm sure they won't, because this industry is garbage... but why shouldn't they? My tools are on their property to make them money (as well as make me money). Would insurance not cover them if the tools were provided by the company? You betcha.

Problem is, they're kinda stuck there. Unless I want to rent a trailer and haul a toolbox that weighed like 1600 lbs empty... it's not gonna happen. Since evacuating tools isn't really an option, why is it an option to not insure them? It's like if someone broke into the shop overnight and stole my box, "whelp, shoulda taken them home!"

Since it's something that's required to be there for the job, and it's something that can't logistically be moved on a regular basis, it should be considered part of the shop even though it's technically my property.

 

[JohnDeere1]

Damon the luck but looks like most can be cleaned

 

[derosa]

I'm sure they won't, because this industry is garbage... but why shouldn't they? My tools are on their property to make them money (as well as make me money). Would insurance not cover them if the tools were provided by the company? You betcha.

Problem is, they're kinda stuck there. Unless I want to rent a trailer and haul a toolbox that weighed like 1600 lbs empty... it's not gonna happen. Since evacuating tools isn't really an option, why is it an option to not insure them? It's like if someone broke into the shop overnight and stole my box, "whelp, shoulda taken them home!"

Since it's something that's required to be there for the job, and it's something that can't logistically be moved on a regular basis, it should be considered part of the shop even though it's technically my property.

I've still never understood the having to supply your own tools rather then the company but if the company requires them the company should be required to protect them. As you mentioned, transporting them on a daily basis is absurd so its not like an owner has a choice on keeping them there or not.

 

[Codenforcer]

Still no updates guys, I'll let you know when I hear something. They have everyone demoing the entire building. Other guys are still cleaning tools after almost 3 days. Mine are soaking at home, I'll be starting to wire brush off the rust Tuesday. Box should be fine, all tore down and cleaned, just need to grease and reassemble.

Man did that pump sprayer with diesel and atf mix come in handy, used it on the box and helped get into all the areas with ease. The equipment damages are catastrophic, customers and new ones on the lot. This put a grin on my face just because how odd it was.

 

[JohnDeere1]

Still no updates guys, I'll let you know when I hear something. They have everyone demoing the entire building. Other guys are still cleaning tools after almost 3 days. Mine are soaking at home, I'll be starting to wire brush off the rust Tuesday. Box should be fine, all tore down and cleaned, just need to grease and reassemble.

Man did that pump sprayer with diesel and atf mix come in handy, used it on the box and helped get into all the areas with ease. The equipment damages are catastrophic, customers and new ones on the lot. This put a grin on my face just because how odd it was.

That's just like my mower omg

 

[48548]

As a professional technician my employer only provide $2000 or 2500 with of tool coverage. I would have to look it up to be sure. It has been several years since I priced insurance on mine but it was very high. I could have bought all my tools back plus more by now at the rates I was quoted, at the time I priced it over 20 years ago I had about $25,000 in tools. I would like to know where everyone is finding these cheap insurance rates. I personally have my home, vehicles and all our farm stuff on a commercial policy, but I doubt it would cover my tools on my work service van.

Same issues with my insurance company, it would cost 5k a year when I asked about coverage at my house for personal use tools.

 

[Cope]

Pretty much any insurance company will sell you a blanket policy on personal property.

You can either add a rider to your homeowners (which is what I did) or purchase a policy separately.

Homeowner's policy probably would not cover tools at work.

 

[Cope]

Back in 1992, a Ford and Mazda dealership in Southwest Houston had tornado damage. Mots of the mechanics' toolboxes were destroyed. The dealership's insurance covered the losses. That's not always the case.

 

[mrborohachi]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Fluid Film yet. I would use it after your diesel/ATF wash. The auto parts stores are carrying the spray can now, but I had my local NAPA order me a 1gal paint can.

https://www.zoro.com/fluid-film-lubricantcorrosion-inhibitor-1-gal-ca/i/G3706507/

 

[gte718p]

My garage flooded during Irene and Sandy. I had lots of tools that looked like yours. It is mostly surface rust. A little fine steel wool and some WD-40 and they came back to 80%. They are never going to be as pretty as they started, but they still turn bolts. I really haven't had much problem with them rusting accept the impact sockets. I dipped them in some cold parkerizing solution (gun blueing) and they have been fine.



Don't go after them with a wire wheel or hard with a strong brush. You want to protect as much of the surface finish as you can.

Take the ratchets apart and give them a good scrubbing, rebuild with a little oil. For the no rebuild able ratcheting wrenches. I soaked them in ATF for a few days. They all still work.

The hardest thing was the tool boxes. Mine was only a HF so not super valuable. However, I took it completely apart. It was amazing were I found dirt and water hiding weeks later.

Good luck. Keep a positive. They are only things.

 

[DGersic]

The electronics might be ok. Open them up, disassemble as much as you can easily, wash them out, then dunk them in isopropyl alcohol. Blow them off with clean air (no oil, dry, etc.). Then let them sit overnight. Reassemble and test. Most should be ok.


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[autopts]

Knowing someone who's higher up in Liberty Mutual home and auto told me flood insurance will not cover any damage caused by a Hurricane. Hurricane coverage is separate coverage and is super costly obviously and that probably goes for autos also. And of coarse they have "Act of God" clauses everywhere. I'm hoping that won't be the case.

 

[DGersic]

Flood insurance covers hurricane damage from flooding. Doesn't cover other hurricane damage like having a tree fall on your house.


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[Ole Slewfoot]

Id do an hour in vinegar followed by a rinse in hot water with a a little baking soda. Way less time than mechanically removing that light surface rust. dropped in a bag of rice will help pull moisture from electronics if you can find a dry bag.

 

[48548]

Any updates?

 

[Codenforcer]

Well, after getting everything wiped down right away then sprayed down with the atf/diesel. I came back and wire brushed off the surface rust on pliers and mostly my hex/torx sockets. They didn't come out to bad at all. You can see where the rust ate away some of the surface finish on the pliers but they will still perform.

All I lost was my 12' blue pint tape measure and my blue point multimeter, about $220 worth. So I'm pretty calm compared to how I was feeling before. My first gen power probe and my snap on test light still work after blowing them off as soon as I got them out of the water.

The employer paid us for the 3 days we missed during the storm, and announced they would do something for our tool losses but not sure yet, maybe just a partial reimbursement. Store is still under construction and customers equipment is getting fixed up best we can.

My snap on tech wrench was at home luckily so that didn't get ruined, however my brand new 1/2 snap on torque wrench with the moon dial I was able to save by getting the handle off and hitting the rust inside with the diesel/atf and a long brass wire brush. Back together and it looks and feels like it did new.

Getting water out of all the cases and cleaning them up was a pain. I used a pic to poke a small hole in corners of cases to allow them to drain, even blew air through the molding hole to force it out of the new hole.

I still have my ratchet heads and ratcheting wrenches soaking in the diesel/atf. All my sockets and tap/dies are still soaking as well. Minimal rust on them but still going to go over with a light wire brush.

My tool box I took completely down and wiped and rinsed twice with hot soapy water. Removed the drawer slides and blew off and soaked in diesel/atf. It's back together now and looking good and feels good too.

Long time cleaning but I feel much better and glad I came out ok, another guy I work with not so good, he had everything digital/electronic in snap-on. He's looking at 8k in losses.

My homeowners policy will be updated with my tools and tool box when this all gets back to normal again.

 

[DGersic]

The electrical Snap On stuff can probably be saved with some work. Take it apart, wash it out with Dawn dish soap and clean water. Blow it out with clean compressed air, like you'd use for painting. Then dunk it in isopropyl alcohol. Let it air dry after that. New batteries, and give it a try.

I repair battery damaged circuit boards regularly, stuff that had NiCad leaking on it for years, enough to get under the green solder mask coating, and eat away at the copper traces. Compared to that, a little flood water is no big deal.

If he has insurance for that 8K, maybe he doesn't care as much, but if that 8K is out of his pocket, $50 at the WalMart and a days work might be worth a shot.


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[lincwelder225]

Any updates on this? What did the employer cover/ not cover? Sorry to resurrect an old thread...

 

[zeke67]

I couldn't read this thread a year ago, also affected by Harvey. Last post from the OP sounded like his losses were minimal, employer was doing what they could, and so on. It's like reading history, hope the OP can come back with and update.