Saturday, May 24, 2025
Latest:
  • MRH-90 crash investigation report released
  • Extension for gunners’ national memorial
  • Front-row seat on Indo-Pacific security
  • Shake-out for brigade ahead of Talisman Sabre
  • Military kids take plunge into whole new world

CONTACT magazine

Australia's best free military news site

  • NEWS
  • Poetry
  • Podcasts
  • Fitness
  • Videos
  • Archives
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Write to us
CONTACT magazine

Make-n-Do

Laundry day at CONTACT HQ
Editor's Vlog 

Laundry day at CONTACT HQ – Part 1

22/06/202127/07/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1442 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

After months – nay, more than a year – of working to improve my workshop, along comes a ‘proper project’ – a laundry makeover at CONTACT HQ.

Read more
Mezzanine stairs build part 3
Editor's Vlog 

Building a folding mezzanine stairs – part 3 – the tool boxes

16/05/202127/07/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1569 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

Like many construction projects, the finishing and fiddly bits seem to require more time – and naughty words – than the actual build itself.

Read more
Folding mezzanine stairs build, part 2
Editor's Vlog 

Building a mezzanine stairs – part 2

12/05/202127/07/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1290 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

After a frustrating (and visually boring) start, the mezzanine stairs has picked up pace, leaping from brain into being, taking shape nicely.

Read more
Building a mezzanine stairs, part 1
Editor's Vlog 

Building a mezzanine stairs – part 1

12/05/202127/07/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1939 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

This is one of those projects you regret starting soon after you do – but stubbornness, or fear of failure drives you on to a happy ending.

Read more
Building a mezzanine extension for timber storage
Editor's Vlog 

Building a mezzanine extension to store long timbers

28/04/202109/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6231 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

This was another of the big projects I did in my shed recently – creating a long-timbers storage space by extending the existing mezzanine.

Read more
Epoxy-painting my workshop floor
Editor's Vlog 

Epoxy coating my workshop floor

21/04/202109/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3120 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

This was one of the major makeovers I did on small(ish) woodworking workshop – epoxy-coating the raw-concrete floor.

Read more
Making Hayley's Christmas present
Editor's Vlog 

Making a Zen Christmas present for a six-year-old

15/03/202109/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3915 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

It’s not easy making Christmas presents for grandkids – competing with shiny, noisy things that go ‘ping’.

Read more
Spinning top made from Nana's wooden bits
Editor's Vlog 

Making a spinning top from Nana’s wooden bits

05/03/202109/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2088 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

All I could think of for a three-year-old’s birthday present was a spinning top. And I made it from Nana’s wooden bits.

Read more
Make-n-Do style clock for a bar
Editor's Vlog 

Make-n-Do style clock for a bar

13/01/202109/02/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1734 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

My daughter wanted a clock for the bar in her new home. She explained her design concept and I agreed to give it a go – Make-n-Do style.

Read more
Editor's Vlog 

Hidden (shock) cost of a DIY demolition job

06/12/202021/03/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1402 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

This job was a long time coming and a long time doing. I could see the cracks in the wall opening wider year after year.

Read more
Editor's Vlog 

Fixing rust on the roof of my car

08/09/202021/03/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1661 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

Rust on your car creeps up on you over several years and you almost get used to looking at it. Until, one day, you actually decide to fix it.

Read more
Veteran HELP Centre 

When signs say the best way forward is to start again

22/07/202004/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1885 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

One of life’s great lessons is to recognise when something you’ve put your heart and soul into for days just isn’t good enough – and start again.

Read more
Veteran HELP Centre 

A serious sign points to what’s next

17/07/202004/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1525 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

If you’re a hoarder like me, you’ll have a piece of wood lying around always whispering – “I’ll come in handy for a nice job one day”. Well today’s the day.

Read more
Editor's Vlog 

Power-tool powerbank on French cleat

12/07/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1881 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

Six hours of work in a six minutes of video – that’s a power trip! But, seriously, this powerbank for my power tools is a real asset in my wood shop.

Read more
Editor's Vlog 

My roving shop organiser – another free bitzer

11/07/202011/07/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1518 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

This project combines a free table I picked up from FB, with a bedside locker I found on the road – complete with someone else’s rubbish and spiders.

Read more
Editor's Vlog 

Make-n-do with a near-free mitre-saw-table build

07/07/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1541 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

Sometimes you just have to start over – which is the lesson in this video, as I take two attempts to make a near-free miter-saw table.

Read more
Editor's Vlog 

Very convienient vertical storage system – French cleats

05/07/202005/07/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3021 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

I am blessed to have a double-garage space to work in – BUT – since it also has to accomodate

Read more
Editor's Vlog 

The scariest project I’ve ever tackled – Part 2

23/06/202024/06/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1533 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

If you were left on the edge of a cliff with my last video – The scariest project I’ve ever tackled – welcome back for part2 and final of this epic project.

Read more
The scariest project I ever did
Editor's Vlog 

The scariest project I’ve ever tackled – Part 1

20/06/202024/06/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2077 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

I did a very scary project in my shed last year. I wasn’t scared at the time, but looking at the footage now in editing, maybe I should have been.

Read more
I got a new power tool and put it to good use straight away
Editor's Vlog 

I got a new powertool – and put it to good use straight away

18/06/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1455 Views 0 Comments Make-n-Do

Rosie bought me a new powertool recently – a planer thicknesser – and it has served me very well on many projects thus far in my wood shop.

Read more
  • ← Previous
  • Next →

Hours more reading…

OUR SUPPORTERS…



About CONTACT

Contact is an independent veteran owned and operated Australian publishing house that curates this web site and a weekly newsletter – available by subscribing (free) via Patreon.

Write to us via editor@militarycontact.com

 

CONTACT Air Land & Sea plus COMBAT Camera magazines were past publications of this business. Digital copies of both magazines can be viewed or downloaded via our Archives (see menus).

Main Menu

  • NEWS
  • Poetry
  • Podcasts
  • Fitness
  • Videos
  • Archives
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • Write to us

Admin Menu

  • Write to CONTACT
  • Sponsored Posts
  • About Us
  • Our Privacy Policy
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • MUSEUM OF ARROGANT HUBRIS
©Copyright Contact Publishing