[dbrow6272]

My garage burned to the ground on January 13, 2012. My project was not in this bldg, but my Harley Davidson FLHTC was. I was in the process of doing a good old Minnesota winter rebuild on the old girl 1994 model and the fire got her. Also all of my tools, special fixtures etc. I have been both a machinist and a Harley mechanic, they are called technicians now. I had an extremely large collection of machinist tools with Gerstner Oak boxes snuggled around them. Also had a Mac 50th anniversary tool box with matching bottom roller. Of course filled to the brim with tools. Insurance man is going to wonder why would 1 person own 6- 1/2 inch wrenches, on and on. I'm sure you all get me you all most likely have the same. Snap on, Craftsman, Starrett, you name it.
All top shelf American Made tools. Even burned my compressor to a melted gob. Now I have to inventory each and every piece, photograph it and put it all on their "special" form. Some of this stuff is gone, might have been on the bench and got tossed with the burned wood.
Carpe Diem
believe in God and pray

[poncho62]

Sorry to hear about the loss....life goes on

[LATECH]

I have photos of my tools, just open the drawers and shoot.I can write a list from that if needed, also I can show the police what the stuff looks like if it comes up missin.
kinda hard to argue with photos.

[NEW INTERIORS]

Sorry to hear this...But something good always come's out of something bad.. Keep your faith...

[stich626]

Originally Posted by latech

I have photos of my tools, just open the drawers and shoot.I can write a list from that if needed, also I can show the police what the stuff looks like if it comes up missin.
kinda hard to argue with photos.

x2
my insurance company asked why I wanted x dollars of coverage for belongings inside the garage, as they said the auto coverage would cover the vehicle.. I shot photo's of the tools, and extra car parts, and they said ok.. we understand now..
good luck with the insurance.. at least it was only the garage..

my wife jokes if the house caught fire I'd be telling the firemen to aim the water at the garage and let the house burn.. thats not true, but funny anyways..
good luck

[dbrow6272]

Amen and thank you.
Do an inventory on your tools including photos and cost now. Keep any and all receipts in a fireproof place. I am doing this after the fact and it is time consuming and of course after a fire, messy. I got some latex gloves to wear as I handle the tools so my hands don't get black. Didn't do this at first and that soot takes a few days to get off no matter how hard you scrub. The fire captain told me they add a chemical now to the water to help put the fire out faster and completly. That is what makes the mess. Odd thing, I had some papers and photos in the box and some of these did not even burn while others did. We go on and pray things get better.

[sbchevfreak]

Ouch, man I feel for you. I went through exactly the same thing. Lost all my tools in a total loss business fire, replacement value around 80 - 90K. Best advice, document everything, and talk to a lawyer. The insurance company will try to screw you in any way they can, so having legal representation will go a long way. I didn't, and go a big zippo from the insurance, and had to start over from scratch.

[dbrow6272]

I know the insurance company will attempt to put it to me so an attorney will be involved. I was a machinist over 30 years ago but my tools and Oak tool boxes were like new. I am very picky you might say about my tools. I even waxed my mechanics tool boxes on a monthly basis. Might sound odd to some but my stuff was always clean and in new like condition. If a socket got greasy inside I used brake cleaner on it before I put it away. A bit anal but I don't like going to my box and grabbing a greasy tool.

[rsfyj]

It would be good for all of us to know how it started or what started the fire so we can all avoid what happened to you, Sorry about all you lost.

[dbrow6272]

The fire inspector and insurance inspector said it was electrical. They think it started in an outlet box. There was nothing plugged into the box, so whoever wired the building may have left a wire nut loose or off.

[matts37chev]

yikes, thats a bummer, sorry to hear it

[wretched ratchet]

Something that lays in the backs of all our minds (along with an echo) and, as Randy said, just keep the faith. A lawyer is your friend in this case so use them. Good Luck with getting back to square one.

[willowbilly3]

Many of us who own the best and have made a living with them wouldn't think your discipline at all anal. I still have the first SK socket set I started with 43 years ago when I was 15. All my snap on and mac tools are 20-30 years old and like new, each in it's own place and clean.

[Rerun Rodder]

Sorry to hear of your loss too. Just my 2 cents worht: Years back I had a fire in a rental property. only fire I ever had thank God. I used a Public Adjuster to fight for me with great success. They meet the insurance Company head on. Less expensive than an attorney as they are legal experts not usually tool experts. try the yellow pages. Just a thought. Best of luck with it all. Sorry you have to go thr.ough this.

[dbrow6272]

Things worked out well with the insurance company. The actually had brand new Snap On, and Craftsman Tools delivered to my home and sent me a check for a tidy amount to replace tools they could not send. I have purchased most everything and will be sending them receipts to get the balance of the money sent. All in all not a horrendous experience. Still have to redo the cement floor and can't quite figure out how to go about it. I have to clean the burn marks first, then level the spots that popped up, then I think I will paint it. Any ideas?