I am new here. I really don't know much about hobby forges and blacksmiths. I got interested in this because of some of our walk-in customers were buying products for them. My family is in the repair and installation of power boilers, aluminum furnaces, and heat treating on the larger scale in the industrial market. Our typical customers are waste incinerators, heat treating company, and large power boilers.
Back to the topic of insurance. I have found that there are certain specialty carriers that will deal with so called "dangerous things" like chow dogs and boiler business. I personally had a hard time finding one for the business but since we do so much volume we were luck to have 3 of the larger insurers to take us on. State Farm would take my house insurance when Travelers canceled because I own a Chow Dog. A couple of years ago an old steam tractor blew up at a state fair and injured several people so this has made insurance people squirrelly of any business involving fire.
I would contact some of the insurers of farms because of the shoeing of the horses and many of them now run propane drying barns and other machinery. Another site may be the steam engines owners of old tractors, saw mills, and other steam run equipment. Another way may be showing them the actual process of what you are doing showing them that the molten metal and fire is barricaded away from people similar to the way holes on roofs with red danger tape an cones. Show them you have fire extinguishers (the correct type with current inspections) with a flat bottom in arms reach, fire blankets handy, and if you are close to any non-fireproof surface put up welding screens. Look the welding safety or fire safety sections but take just what is reasonable. Most of the time if you groove you are minimizing and danger and safety is a priority they will help you out. I have run on too long. If you are interested in more let me know.
Thank you for letting me participate.
Refractorygirl
