I don't know if this specific job is the answer, but you definitely sound like you need training. There's a big difference between being reasonably handy, or even an accomplished do-it-yourselfer, and being good enough to work professionally (just for example, I've remodeled/restored two houses pretty much on my own, while my brother has been a carpenter for 20 years. When we hung the doors in my house, he did five in the time it took me to do one).
Check with community colleges and adult education programs in your area. They often have classes that concentrate on specific skills, not necessarily leading to a degree, but giving you the knowledge you need to find a job. Many also have placement programs for graduates, and these days they ALL are set up to help people like you who've been bashed by the economy.