I grew up knowing a fellow like that in Vancouver. He could build almost anything and most of it from just looking at the bits and imagining the outcome. A special talent for sure. Too bad we're into the downward spiral of tossing things away when they stop performing the way we think they should. His favourite reaction to my presenting a solution he didn't agree with was to lean into my face with a cigarette burning and say "What the F__K were you thinking Crout!" It was a great motivator to do it right the first time but wouldn't pass muster these days.
We all need great mentors but the herd is getting real thin these days. Who will you be passing on your mechanical skills to? Our kids don't seem to have the same mechanical motivation do they? Maybe the answer is in the attached photo?