[El Ropo]

You're not getting it... Build a UDS, you'll be nothing but sorry if you don't. The fire basket is so far away from the food, it's just like cooking in an offset. I can't find a decent 30 gallon build thread after a quick search, but I know they are here somewhere. Maybe someone who has build one will chime in.

Any high temp rated paint in a rattle can will work fine for the outside. Krylon BBQ black.

You keep rust out of the inside by seasoning it like a cast iron pan. Spray pam or the cheapest cooking spray you can find all over the inside, then do a "seasoning burn" to set the oil into the metal. No more rust.