A tribute to Al Carrell, a 'super' handyman and father

Editor's note: Al Carrell, whose column has appeared in the Daily Herald's real estate sections for many years, passed away Aug. 27. The following column by his daughter, Kelly Carrell, as a tribute to his memory. Kelly Carrell will continue to write "The Super Handyman" columns.

On Aug. 27, 2014, my dad, Al Carrell, went to Heaven. Our hearts are broken, but I want to express to you how much my dad loved writing this newspaper column. He really enjoyed being able to help and inspire people to do their own repairs and save money doing it.

He loved going through the mail, answering questions and reading letters filled with hints, tips and super ideas. His passion was obvious to those whose lives he touched.

In addition to "The Super Handyman" newspaper columns, which are syndicated by King Features and have run for more than 40 years in hundreds of papers worldwide, he also hosted radio talk shows and several television series, and written eight books - all with patience, motivation and tons of humor!

I spent my life watching him and my mom perform these projects, and tried to learn everything I could from them. The biggest lesson I learned was that you can do anything in this world you put your mind to. You have to do your research and have the courage to try new things. Always do your best, and have fun with whatever you do. He always said, "If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong!"

On behalf of our family and myself, I want to thank you all so very much for all of your support through the years. I plan to continue writing the columns for as long as I can, in order to help and encourage readers to accomplish their DIY goals.

I don't know about you, but I think I'll go fix something.

Save those scraps

Tyvek is some super stuff, made to sheath your house walls and seal them up better than anything else. The leftover scraps are great also for use on lots of things around the shop and home. You can use a small scrap to create an apron. It will shield your clothes from paint, mud, dirt, mulch, insecticide and other messy stuff. Just cut out a basic rectangle, large enough to create an apron, plus ties for the neck and waist. It's very difficult to tear, so it will last through several projects. If you don't have scraps, check with local builders. They'll probably be more than happy to give you some.

Reach new heights

If you've ever seen professional drywall repair being done, you probably have watched the guys on their stilts. It's really amazing. We made our own stilts the last time we were putting some mud over a patch in a wall, and used the stilts to paint the repair, too. We made ours by turning a couple of empty plastic paint buckets upside down and gluing some old shoes on top of them. We used our stilts to finish our repair, and they worked great. You can do this, too, and you'll reach new heights! You can't tap dance in them, but they sure can help you get the job done without a ladder.

Super hints

• If you must store lawn equipment like mowers, edgers and other things like this outdoors, it's best to cover them to protect them from the weather. Tarps don't really fit very well, but maybe an umbrella cover or grill cover would. Most also will have built-in ties to hold them on tightly.

• As a mom, I have spent as much time in the kitchen as I have in the workshop. I often use kitchen utensils when I can't find the right tool for the job. Potato mashers, ricers and a whisk really are great for stirring paint and other liquids. Spatulas can be used to scrape paint and rust. Don't forget to wash them or buy replacements if you use them often enough in the shop, but it is a great source for makeshift tools when you need one.

• If you haven't tried "head lamps," you should. There are several different kinds, but they fit around your head or on a cap and allow you to see clearly where you are trying to work, and they leave your hands free while doing so.

Q. I need to replace a sprinkler head in my lawn. I think I mowed over it, as it is just shooting water straight up. Can you tell me how to do this?

A. It's a lot easier, in most cases, than you might think. We suggest digging around the head a little bit and pulling some of the grass out of the way. These heads just screw onto a riser and pipe. If you can get ahold of the head, which is roughly about 3 inches in diameter, and turn it and unscrew it all the way off, then you can take it to the hardware store or plumbing supply and find a replacement. Then you just need to screw it back on. If this is your first one, you're lucky. It's going to get easier with each one you replace.

Q. We put up a ceiling fan on our back porch last summer. I guess it's humid because the fan blades are starting to warp and sag down on the edges. I know I need to replace them but is there any way to prevent this from happening again?

A. Do a little shopping around and look for "outdoor" blades. They do make them, and most home centers will carry a few to choose from. If the fan housing wasn't made for outdoors, take a closer look at it and make sure it's not starting to rust.

Reader tips

• We had quite a storm last week and several of the windows in our dining room were broken out. We also had some water damage and are having to redo one of the walls. We are working on the project in our spare time, so it's going to take several weeks. The windows go in next week and we already have started replacing the drywall. My wife installed two shower curtains over the doorway. This sure was smart, as the heat coming in through the plywood-covered windows is pretty intense. I also plan to leave them up when I start sanding to keep the dust from the rest of the house.

• We finally got a boat. We really have enjoyed it and have "customized" the boat and trailer. We installed a lot of peel-and-stick reflectors along the side of the trailer. It sits on the side of our house and, without the reflectors, is hard to see when backing out of the garage. The reflectors help quite a bit. They also make it easier to see when docking and parking.

• I bought a pretty good table at a local thrift shop. It has a laminate top and we plan to use it for our breakfast room. I did notice that the band of laminate that goes around the edge was peeling off. I tried to glue it back on but it didn't stick more than a day. I pulled it all the way off and bought a new piece for less than $10. You use an iron to place it on the table edge. It looks great, and the whole table cost me less than $40.

• Years ago, my sister gave me a really nice key chain that had my name and address on it. I did the same for her last year for her birthday. Then we got the brilliant idea to trade name tags. This way, if I lose my keys, they might be returned to her. If they did fall into the wrong hands, they would not be able to gain access to her house or car since the keys were mine and not actually hers.

• My husband put a magnet on his push broom to sweep up hardware in the garage when he spills it. I thought it was a good idea, so I have glued one on the front of my dry mop. It's already picked up an earring that I thought I'd never see again.

Shoptalk

• MyLight.me is a fun new product line we ran across. It's an easy-to-install LED lighting system that is motion activated. Originally designed for in the closet or for under a bed, it could be used in a whole lot of other situations around your home. The kits come already put together with everything you need and in several different sizes. The motion activated time is programmable, too. Check it out online at mylight.me.

• Quikrete PowerLoc Jointing Sand is the best material we've ever used to sweep over your new paver patio or sidewalk. The "sand" has special polymers in it and, when dampened with your garden hose, hardens to lock the pavers into place. It inhibits weed growth between pavers, too, and resists erosion, so it will last a long time. Check it out at your hardware store, home center or at www.quikrete.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006 or visit the Carrells' website at thesuperhandyman.com.

© 2014, Cowles Syndicate Inc.