Drill 4 intake holes, 3 or 4 grate holder holes, add bolts, thermometer cable pass holes, vent the top. 20 minutes, depending upon how long you deliberate on where to put the holes...fabricate a firebox. I bolted expanded metal into a circle with fender washers and stainless hardware, then attached w/j bolts thru a pizza pan w/2 1/2" room underneath. That's the minimum required. Anything after that, gate valves, extension pipes, smokestack, is all for convenience or appearance. I have 10 holes in my barrel and 8 in the lid, + 2 in the lid for the handle and hanging hook. I plug the holes with magnetic steel balls. I drop a stainless bowl on top of the holes in the lid to close that off. I would prefer a smokestack, about 3 1/2" X 15 or so...seems to draft fairly well that way. I haven't spent the $ for the attaching parts, though. I propped the one off'n my offset on top a time or two. I do wish I had a few handles on the outside, but again, I'm not spending the $ on it until I get another real job.