I always feel a bit inadequate when I go to my parents' house and look around in the shop at all the tools and odds and ends related to metal working that I have zero idea how to use. And even that is a small smattering of what my dad actually knew how to use.
I don't know if its a time and place thing where those skills were more relevant to a rural farm boy in the 60s than they are today, or just that such people still have those skills, but I'm just not one of them...
You can pick up a lot of wood and metalworking skills from just watching YouTube and SAFELY experimenting. You’re not going to become a master tradesman or anything but you can pick up a great deal of know-how. Just get a list of things you want to learn and spend some time in dad’s workshop with a laptop showing YouTube.
I currently feel comfortable doing basic home plumbing, electrical, my own auto maintenance, building small pieces of wood furniture, and light metalwork (bending, drilling, riveting, etc). Next up that I’d like to learn is welding and fiberglass. With so many resources out there for free, your only limitation is time and access to basic tools.
I don't know if its a time and place thing where those skills were more relevant to a rural farm boy in the 60s than they are today, or just that such people still have those skills, but I'm just not one of them...