I've got the receipt: Made by A.O. Smith, gas, 76 gallons, 6 years old --$145 (seems awfully cheap).
It's leaking hot water from the top--evidently theres a pin-hole sized hole in the "shell", very close to where the hot water goes out (the plumber seemed to try very hard to repair it for an hour or two; I provided his final diagnosis). Replacement of the heater is covered under home warrantee, except for "modifications"--which are evidently are going to be in he in the neighborhood of $325--because it's backed into a corner where a light sink will have to be taken out, a gas line moved and the exhaust adjusted. I think he's asking a little much, but I'm not sure there's much I can do. I could ask him to leave the new heater in the garage and shop around. But I'm not sure how much I could really save. In the meantime, we still have hot water when we need it (the heater just leaks-quite a bit). As the problem is worse since his visit, I've been shutting off the incoming pressure to the heater when we are not using hot water. Please don't trouble yourself with this one Lew--please save your energy for helping me to see my way through my workbench project! : ) I'm getting closer and closer to the concrete-grinding, epoxy flooring, and garage painting, and TS ordering projects, after which I can begin physical work on the workbench.
Concerning the workbench, I have been thinking about how to make the almost square vertical supports--i.e., the ends, plus at least 2 more (from SYP). I could glue 1" thick boards, say 6" wide, together so that the bench top will rest on end grain. Is SYP appropriate for all of the parts (these supports, plus drawers and shelves) ? When I get closer to having a finished design, I hope some of the readers here will critique it. Having fun.
Bill