Got this as a birthday present but had to wait to build it due to a missing template and handle. Once they arrived, the build began. Didn’t take 3 hours as most people do, but ensure your drill is fully charged as I had to recharge my battery for about 20 minutes. Installation was simple and straightforward. Once together, I cured it for about 3 hours and started smoking the next day. Started with chicken wings and baby back ribs. This barrel seals VERY well. Zero heat loss as the steel is sturdy and the seals are solid. Chicken came out juicy with the classic pink smoked color. Ribs were tender but not overcooked. The rub in the instructions is similar to what I currently use and it’s easy to make. This is the perfect smoker if you’re not smoking for a large group. Highly recommend and might just get another to smoke brisket and pork shoulder.

Great little smoker, it was fun putting it together and experimenting with it over the last couple years. However, the clasp on the ring that seals the lid has worn out and I don't know how to find a replacement. Can we order replacement parts somehow?

Great little smoker, it was fun putting it together and experimenting with it over the last couple years. However, the clasp on the ring that seals the lid has worn out and I don't know how to find a replacement. Can we order replacement parts somehow?

I bought this smoker about a year ago, mainly due to the price but also because it has more features than several more expensive barrel smokers. I used to build race cars so assembly was not difficult. A centerpunch is a must for locating your drilling points. All the parts were included and fit as designed. Although the smaller barrel size could limit how much you can cook with this smoker, it has handled everything I have tried. Chuck roasts, pork shoulders, whole chickens, racks of ribs, etc. It probably can't handle a whole brisket but you could always cut one in two and cook it on the two included grill grates. I especially like that this smoker includes a thermometer and the spring-coil handles stay cool and safe to use without gloves. As the bottom lid is not welded onto the barrel, tending your fire is a breeze, even when the barrel is full of food. Just lift the barrel off the base, tend your fire, then set the barrel back on the base. This also makes cleaning out the ashes easy. Would I recommend this smoker? Heck yes! Especially when a Pit Barrel Junior is $100 more and does not include all the features of the Man Crates barrel smoker!

My husband has used grills, and an electric smoker to smoke meats and he said this is the best smoker he has ever owned. He wants me to order another one in case anything happens to the one we have. We Unfortunately, it has been out of stock. We have had it for over a year and have had no problems. He said he will never go back to an electric smoker.

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!!

Got this for a Father’s Day gift. It came in a discreet cardboard box. We decided to put this together early so we could smoke some meat for Sunday. Everything was packed nicely inside the drum. It took us about 3 hours to put this together. The instructions were a little confusing as the diameters in the instruction manual did not match the diameters on the cutout blueprint. We ended up following the cutout out diameters, the screws didn’t fit following the manual. The drill bit piece we received also did not look like the instructions. We received this two-side piece to puncture the holes. Both sides ended up breaking from use. We were really struggling puncturing the last holes for the bottle opener. There were also some nuts that were warped so we we unable to secure them on a few bolts. The ventilation plate only had one bolt instead of 2 in the instructions. We also didn’t receive the right nuts for the vent on the top lid. All in all it was a fun experience for us. The final product looks great. I didn’t see a place for me to order parts but would be great if I could get some replacement pieces. Is there a place I can order some additional hardware?

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

I got this for a gift for my husband. Putting together was pretty easy and fun although some of the instructions in the book didn’t match the sizing indications on the stencil which could completely ruin it if you don’t go slowly and test the smallest option first. I was more disappointed that the main grate was used, it was covered in soot. I contacted customer service and while very nice weren’t helpful at all. I would have expected a…we will get a new grate shipped to you right away and when you receive please put the used one in and send it back. They instead wanted the used part back first then they would send out the new one. Just bad service when you as a company send out something used/broken and then leave the customer waiting for your part back resulting in a long delay before the customer can use the product they paid for.

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

This is what the barrel looks like after 9 months. Worked well 3 times I used it but looks terrible now. The guys tried to help out by offering 10% off on the next purchase but ..... not worth it.