We have had electric smokers but none gave us the flavor this one does and it's much easier to clean. My only issue is I would like to be able to get replacement parts as I can see wear on some of the baskets. My husband actually wanted me to buy another just so we would have parts to replace but it would be nice to buy just what we needed to replace. Our favorite to cook with though.

It took about 4 hours to assemble but I was not in a hurry. I applied sealant to the holes drilled for handles, hooks etc. to button it up. After seasoning I smoked a brisket. I had to separate the point from the flat to allow it to fit. The temperature was easy to maintain. I thought it would be harder to control but once you get the hang of it, it is easy to keep it at 220, 250, 275.
Quality so far is top notch. Time will tell for how long it will last but for the price I think it was a nice gift to myself.

My wife surprised me with this for Christmas. The important tools are included. You just need a drill and phillips screwdriver. Once i finished building it took close to 3 hr with a couple beer breaks.. I seasoned it with canola oil. First run I made outstanding smoked wings. It's easy to maintain the temp and has plenty of room. I have a larger smoker however this unit functions much better! Excellent product! Thank you for providing quality materials for this project!

Got this for Christmas from my wife it is amazing.. fun to build. And Christmas dinner came out amazing... love this

Me wife bought me this as a Christmas gift and I couldn't be happier. Easy to build and use. I have smoked ribs, fish, chicken and pork shoulder and can honestly say better or as good as the local bbq joint. Trust me this works just as good as the overpriced smokers. Buy it you won't be disappointed.

I bought this for my husband to give him something to do. He has used it a few times with wood chips we made from a storm damaged tree. The last time we used it I asked him which one he liked best. We have 2 electric smokers that we have used for years and he said "The barrel smoker!" He likes it best because we get the "Fire" that we don't get with the other smokers. So far the best thing we've made is smoked chicken tinga tacos . Thank you

I received the barrel smoker as a Christmas gift. I make my own beef jerky & bacon, so this was a perfect way to add extra smoking capacity to my existing setup.
The parts kits were easy to identify, and the included tools made for easy assembly. I especially enjoyed working with the step drill bit.
The drill templates are sturdy; I recommend retaining them in case you want to make modifications later.
I spaced the assembly over 3 separate days & was very pleased with the result.
Hints: a workbench with some scrap wood helps to "block" the barrel in place during drilling. A strong magnet helps to pick up tiny bits of metal left over from drilling. Keep charged batteries handy, especially when drilling the lower vent holes. An angled power drill is easier to balance when drilling on the barrel surface. Finally, an application of high-temp paint will cover any small exterior chips that occur when working with the upper & lower lids.
Recommendation to Mancrates: offer a second vent door parts kit as an option to add a small access point for placing more wood chips during the smoking process.
Thanks Mancrates!

This was one of the best gifts Ive ever received. My girlfriend hunted this down as I have wanted to start smoking meats for a new hobby. Built it the same day. Used it the next day. Works great!

Got this for my husband who dreams of being a smoker (never done it). Thought this would be fun for him...a beginner smoker - I’ll get him a fancy one if he uses the home-built one! We built it together in about 3 hrs. Instructions need an update, but we didn’t encounter any problems. He smoked a rack of ribs for dinner and they were pretty darn good (we are in Alaska and this worked at 25F, kept the temp pretty constant).

Good find, good buy! (We got a puzzle box too and that was super fun!)

Got his as a Christmas gift. It was easy and fund to build. We smoked ribs the same day and they were phenomenal! Best gift to provide someone.

Wife got this for me and it sat in the box for longer than I care to admit, but after we spent a fun evening together building it, then my wife taught me how to brine a roast, and we smoked some of the best meat we've ever eaten the next day. 1st time smokers, but die hard fans from here on out. Thanks Man Crates!

Bought this nifty little guy for my husband for his birthday. He put it together and we’re smoking some meat right now! Too bad we can’t post pictures because this smoker works great! Awesome gift for the guy who has everything.

My wife surprised me with this and it has been awesome! The build was easy and fun. Even one my first use, it was easy to dial the temp I wanted and it stayed consistent for hours! It’s smaller size is way more portable than the full 55gal drums, so it’s great even for travel or tailgating. It also just looks smooth. I highly recommend!

I was given this smoker as a gift for Father's Day. We built it as a family project and it was so much fun. The build is not difficult at all and the instructions are very easy to follow. Our first cook on it was super easy and the food came out amazing. I would recommend getting a remote meat thermometer as it makes the smoking process easier. Definitely recommend it!!

It’s really nice but the lack of instructions ruined the experience. I thank you folks for the product but 4 stars until you guys include better instructions

My wife bought it for me for Valentine’s Day. It was put together in roughly one hour and was immediately used. Works great vents are awesome, but within the second cook my paint was pealing even though it’s never reached temp over 350. Going to sand and repaint with a 2,000 degree paint

My step dad loved this gift initially but when he went to put it together he found that it hadn't been seasoned. Because of this a thin layer of rust formed on the inside of the barrel. Very disappointed

Super pissed that I bought this for My Husband for Christmas and the side of the shipping box says, " Barrel Smoker." Thanks Man Crate for ruining my Christmas gifts. Because I work everyday including Christmas Eve, and guess who brought the delivery inside, low and behold my husband. Super pissed off but maybe change the box so you don't ruin some other wife, mother, daughter, or sister's surprise.