I just lost HALF my tools!

[fflintstone]

I just lost HALF my tools!(INSURANCE UPDATE PG 9)

Tonight about 10:00 PM one of my outbuildings caught fire. In it was my Quincy air compressor, my toolbox with 95% of my hand tools, my plasma cutter, Mig welder and oxy acetylene tanks.
This *****! I hope I don’t have any problems with my insurance Co.
PLEASE, NO JOKES OK.






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[Thomarann]

That's terrible - sorry to hear.

Marc

 

[Garys Garage]

Wow. Sorry for your loss. Any idea what started it?

 

[JustBob]

I know what you are going through, although mine were not lost by fire. I had everything stolen from my work shop at the end of 2009, and to this day I am still buying tools. One word of advice, do not accept any deal or dollar amount from the insurance company that is unreasonable.

 

[g0ldfing3r]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[evintho]

Wow! That *****! My condolences. On the bright side, I'll bet most of the hand tools can be cleaned up and saved. MIG's, torches and air compressors are all over craigslist for cheap. Also, it could've been your house and you or your family could've been in it! Count your blessings! Material things can be replaced. Hang in there!

 

[wornoutoldman]

Praying for you.

 

[Lt CHEG]

Only a jerk would make a joke about your misfortune. I'm sorry for your loss and hope you get made whole again quickly. Good luck.

 

[fflintstone]

No one was hurt, just stuff; it was scary when the 40 lb propane tank blew, then when the acetylene went off. When the fire department had most of the flames out, then would hit one of the chainsaws, the magnesium would burn real bright.
I am pretty sure how it started, not going to get into it now.

 

[willy3486]

I hate to hear that. That wasn't the cattle barn you were redoing was it? I hate to see that happen to anyone. As far as the propane tanks they can be dangerous. We had a factory here where I live that caught on fire. It had a lot of tanks and such. They were blowing up and launching in the air. some went almost a quarter of a mile. It was real hazzardous for the firemen. Hopefully the insurance won't fuss. If they do fuss back big time. A couple of years ago the wind was almost a tornado and took a lot of our roof shingle off. We pay extra to have full coverage and low deductable. The guy was only going to give us about 2 grand to cover a 6 grand reroofing job.Anyway our reply was we were going over his head to the main office. He then honored the original insurance policy. So see what the policy is first and stand firm. Good luck with them.

 

[raskal]

I lost all my tools in a 2009 fire. It still haunts me.

It weird, but I built a real relationship with my old tools. I miss them as if I'd lost friends. Buying new tools sounds fun, but I'd rather have my old stuff back. Buying new was much more of a pain that I thought it'd be. Some of my stuff I had for 30 years....

a note about insurance. Tell them that you bought most of it within that last year. They do not understand that a 5 day old pair of pliers is not as good as a 5 year old pair. They (at least for me) depreciated everything 10% per year. I had some Made in the USA tools that are not made here anymore. I lost great tools, I had to buy ****. (I was given full value if I bought the tool, but if I wasn't buying it, they gave depreciated value)

It's going to take a long time to get over this,... I'm no where near close

 

[ddawg16]

Do you know the cause?

 

[gsport]

yeah, that totally *****.... sorry to hear this

 

[rickairmedic]

Fflintstone sorry to hear about your loss . I understand it though we had a house fire a year ago last month and we are still rebuilding .


Rick

 

[mad57]

Thank god no one was hurt or killed...***** yes but stuff can be replace family /friends cant . if you need anything fast i have some doubles of wratchets ect send a pm .

 

[A_Pmech]

Terrible news! I wouldn't laugh about it or wish it on anybody. That looks like a hell of a fire, glad to hear nobody was hurt.

Stay safe and good luck with the insurance company.

 

[Plombob]

Wow! Sorry to hear about that. I hope you find the source.

 

[fflintstone]

So does anybody know what happens to sockets and wrenches when they get really hot?I will post pictures of the carnage tomorrow. The toolboxes and air compressor look really sick, I couldn’t even see the welders, and there is not much left of the generator.

 

[hofferwood]

SORRY Brother,
Thank God no one was hurt!!!!!!!!!!
Did you have any thunder and lightning today?
We're 8mi south of metro airport, with just heavy rain all day. No thunder boomers, turned to snow about 4:30pm.
Chuck

 

[sellersrodshop]

i feel your pain bro, only been three months since mine went up in flames. as far as the sockets, wrenches & such, they should clean up fine. it got really hot where the tool box was that held my hand tools, to the point of having to destroy the box to get the tools out & they all cleaned up fine. i gave them a bath in muriatic acid/water to clean the rust off & polished them up with 0000 steel wool. most of my ratchets are fine too. i did have to remove the mechanisms & clean/lube/reassemble.

 

[54FordPanel]

That's awful, I'm sorry that happened to you.

 

[bradleykd]

wow, you can for sure tell there were gas bottles in there... sorry about your misfortune. I hope all gets worked out for the better.

 

[earthtech]

Sorry to hear about your loss, I had one of my crew trucks stolen lost fuel tanks, compactors, grade laser, etc. Very sorry to hear about your lose at least no one ways hurt. As others have said don't take the insurance co first offer they always under value items especially tools.

 

[Coolabah]

That is so aweful. Sorry to hear of your bad luck & loss, can't think of anything to say to make you feel better except at least you didn't have family, yourself , or pets in there! Hope it turns out OK with insurance etc..

And, I agree, not a joking matter

 

[bluesman2a]

So sorry to hear about this.

Just think of the bright side here: while the shop may be wrecked/gone, your family is safe, and your home is untouched. This would be worlds harder if somebody had been hurt/lost or you faced living in a hotel in the aftermath.

Take a deep breath and think good thoughts about meeting with your insurance agent. Think about NEW tools. Think about replacing your outbuilding.

 

[ovilla]

Sorry to hear of your loss. I'd definitely try to gather recent reciepts or pics of any of your equipment to show proof of ownership and/or costs. I'd also start putting together an inventory of everything you remember being in that building and just keep going over it so that you don't forget to list something for the insurance company. Also, as others have said, do not just take the first offer they make you.

 

[MartyO]

Terrible. Just terrible.

 

[contactme_11]

Just a word of advice. If you plan to try to save your hand tools, DON'T do it before the insurance guy can look at the damage. More likely they will make you an offer on those not knowing that they may be salvagable. A friend who does insurance claims once told me don't except depreciated value for items that need to be replaced. They know you'll be paying full retail for new ones, so make sure they know you can't afford to pitch in.

 

[danski0224]

I hope all those tools were for hobby/personal use and not used to earn a living...

 

[ratdoggy]

I hope it works out for you. Glad to hear no one was hurt.

 

[51rider]

That is terrible!

It won't make it any easier but at least you & yours are ok.

Take a look through any old photographs that you might have of the place-it might help on jogging your memory about what was in there & might also prove useful with the insurance too!

 

[fflintstone]

Thanks for all the sympathy, I appreciate it.

Well I went out and snapped a few photos, unfortunately only this one came out. Enough to make a grown man cry. You would not believe the destruction!




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[Bull]

Anyone who makes a joke about this would not be welcome here.

I'm sorry about this.

If insurance does not cover you, please let us know. I'll start a donation thread here and I am sure people would be willing to send you replacement tools or small donations to help you replace what was lost. I'd be in for one or the other.

 

[nehog]

OK, here's my advice:

Get a professional to help you negotiate with the insurance company. There are people who do this and are able to maximize both the claim, and minimize the trouble and time. They are well worth the money you will spend, I know of several people who have gone this route, and all speak well of using a professional on their side.

 

[walrus]

That just *****, sorry

 

[hpw]

OK, here's my advice:

Get a professional to help you negotiate with the insurance company. There are people who do this and are able to maximize both the claim, and minimize the trouble and time. They are well worth the money you will spend, I know of several people who have gone this route, and all speak well of using a professional on their side.

Saw this on "This Old House" when Tom Silva's brother's house was deystroyed in a fire. Couldn't for the life of me remember the "service" he used, that you are referring too. What is it called?

 

[930dreamer]

Sorry for the loss, glad no one was hurt

 

[Bender78]

What a damn shame. I'm so sorry man.

Keep us posted on this and really.....let us know if there is anything you need.

 

[Kevin54]

Very sorry to hear that, but glad it was an outbuilding and not a house. Tools can be replaced, lives cannot. Hopefully your insurance company will take care of you. Please let us know what happened when and if you find out.

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Really sorry to hear this. Hope the insurance co does you right.