Made a barrel smoker this summer and have used it several times and very pleased....my cost was about 190 bucks using 3/22 inch weber grills..2 to cook on and one to hold my water pan that is 20 inches in diameter and serves as barrier for indirect heat....takes a day or less to build....also I put 4 wheels on the bottom
the video's show burning and sanding....if I had to burn the barrel I would have had it sand blasted....instead I bought a new barrel for 68 bucks....no burning just washed it out....made my own 8 inch high x 16 inchdiameter basket with 2 inch bolts for legs and use a metal trash can lid to catch the ash.