UNHANDY OF THE WORLD, REJOICE

That’s right, you-even you-can wow the opposite sex and save big bucks by building your own bookshelves, unclogging drains, and fixing almost anything around the house that needs repair. Al Carrell, Guru of Glue, Sage of Sander & Saw, Super Handyman of radio and television, says, “Anyone can do what I do. Repeat, anyone. All it takes is a little patience, some real effort, and an optimistic attitude.”

Carrell’s first project was erecting a back yard fence, a job he completed under the watchful eye of an older neighbor. Today, he is widely known as the final authority on almost every aspect of home repair and general handiwork. His column is carried three times a week in more than 250 newspapers across the country, and his radio show on KRLD, on which he fields questions from listeners, is heard each Saturday and Sunday. He even has his own weekly show on cable TV.

Long before joining KRLD two and a half years ago, Carrell was an established radio personality. He spent a year with WRR and five more with WFAA fielding queries on home repair. Questions from listeners have increased from the trickle of early days to a flood.

Some of those calls are memorable. When Carrell mentioned on the air that he and a few friends always celebrate the birthday of Thomas Crapper (the Englishman who invented the flush toilet), one of his listeners called immediately. The man had argued for years with his son over the use of the inventor’s name as a synonym for his invention. After Carrell’s show, he called his son in New York and apologized.

Another caller claimed that Carrell had saved her sex life. Her handyman husband usually ignored her as he divided his time between do-it-your-self jobs and watching TV. Listening to Car- 1 rell, he finally became so sure of himself that he took a screwdriver to the TV set-a practice Carrell strongly discourages. With the TV kaput, hubby turned his attention back to amorous pursuits.

Carrell enjoys his fan mail and candidly admits that he likes to be recognized on the street. A new grandfather, he recently turned sixty but looks at least ten years younger. “Doing what I like to do keeps me young,” Carrell says. “And it’s something that anyone can do. Mostly, it’s just a matter of making up your mind and getting started.”