I just made an offer to a guy on craigslist for 3 ball lock cornys for 100$ Should I do it? Havn't started kegging YET but this seems like a reasonable deal. What should I look out for when I go to get them so I don't get burned?
3 Ball lock cornys for 100$
- Thread starter Psycotte
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Given today's prices, I'd say that is a very good deal. Just a few years ago, cornies could be had in the $20-25 range. As they've become more scarce, the price has gone up dramatically.
Look for any major dents, loose handles, etc. Check to ensure the lid seats properly and isn't dented itself. Check the pressure relief valve to see if it feels very loose. Best case scenario is that they're pressurized, and when you pull on the valve, you hear it hiss.
Open up the lid and look inside. Take a whiff. More than likely, it's coming from a homebrewer or was once used for soda. You don't want to smell any chemicals in there.
Look for any major dents, loose handles, etc. Check to ensure the lid seats properly and isn't dented itself. Check the pressure relief valve to see if it feels very loose. Best case scenario is that they're pressurized, and when you pull on the valve, you hear it hiss.
Open up the lid and look inside. Take a whiff. More than likely, it's coming from a homebrewer or was once used for soda. You don't want to smell any chemicals in there.
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Psycotte
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I know right where that is.
Thanks for the feedback. I think i'll have to do it as an investment. Seems the Cornys are getting tougher to find.
I know right where that is.
Thanks for the feedback. I think i'll have to do it as an investment. Seems the Cornys are getting tougher to find.
Good idea. They'll get put to use sooner or later.
My house was the yellow one at the end just before you go down the hill to the camp. The house was grey when we bought it.
It might not make a difference to you but i personally would check to make sure they're not converted pin locks. Pin locks are cheap right now so it would make it less of a deal to me since that's about the going rate for pin locks here. It might just be me, I'm kinda picky like that.
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Psycotte
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How can I tell?
On the craigslist ad he says he has "Selling over 100 Soda canisters, 5 gallon keg, most are pin-lock but we have about 20 ball-lock"
I'm fairly new to kegging, so the only way I know for sure is the size. The ball locks are a bit taller and thinner and the pin locks are a bit shorter and wider. I don't have the measurements in front of me though
But if the seller has both kinds just setting them next to each other should be all you need to do. If they're the same size they're converted, if not they're true ball locks.
But if the seller has both kinds just setting them next to each other should be all you need to do. If they're the same size they're converted, if not they're true ball locks.
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Psycotte
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Ahhh...that's right. I do remember reading that on here somewhere too. I'll look up the measurements and make sure I bring my tape measure when picking up.
DanH
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coolharry said:
Also, ball locks typically have the posts directly across from each other and there is a relief valve on the lid. Pin locks have posts that are both more in front of the lid, so not on opposing sides.
I buy any/all ball lock kegs on craigslist that are under $40, regardless of condition. They are very easy to clean and the fix so that they'll hold pressure. Once holding pressure, it doesn't take long to sell them for $50. Wait a year and sell them for $75.
Who cares if they're converted pin locks? It's the conversion parts that cost money. A converted pinlock and a ball lock have the exact same value IMHO. If I bought a pinlock and the conversion parts myself it'd cost the same as the cheapest ball lock I could get. (about 45 bucks). So afaic, the conversion saves you the time and probably the shipping on the parts.
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Psycotte
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Good points by all of you. Thanks so much for helping here. I def think I'm getting them.
that's kinda what I was getting at in my first post. It probably doesn't matter to a lot of people, but I'm picky about it for some reason. just throwing out my opinion.
CooperBrew
Well-Known Member
Good luck with your CL deal. I asked for 1-3 ball lock kegs on there a couple of weeks ago and got a response pretty fast. The guy told me he only "deals in bulk and has bulk pricing". He told me the minimum purchase amount was 4 kegs and to make an offer. I offered $40 each for 4 kegs ($120). He replied back that that was far too low, they "list" for over $70. I sent him a link to several websites that had them on sale for $40 with free shipping at the time. I guess his idea of "bulk pricing" and mine are a little different. As it turns out they were pin lock kegs which I wasn't looking for anyways. Just be aware of what they are offering
midfielder5
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Size of the kegs (ie pin vs ball) matter to those who have a small kegerator/chest freezer or are trying to squeeze an extra one into their system.
CooperBrew
Well-Known Member
This is true. I am building a small keezer (7 cu.ft) and because of the height of my collar and the height on the "hump" inside I can fit 3 ball locks in the low portion of the freezer and I'll be able to fit 1 pin lock on the hump with my CO2 tank.
Good deal on the kegs BTW
This is true. I am building a small keezer (7 cu.ft) and because of the height of my collar and the height on the "hump" inside I can fit 3 ball locks in the low portion of the freezer and I'll be able to fit 1 pin lock on the hump with my CO2 tank.
Good deal on the kegs BTW
And just as often as this is a concern, so is the opposite. Somebody wanting the narrower ball locks to squeeze an extra one in a space constricted more by width/depth then by height.
In the end, the OP doesn't even have a freezer/fridge, and might be buying them as an investment only if he doesn't end up using them...so I submit that this is a good deal and I promise, if I were anywhere nearby I'd be trying to beat him to the punch.
NivekD
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Just make sure they hold pressure.
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Psycotte
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I think this a risk I take buying off CL. If I buy from cornykegs.com they want $38.95 for refurbished pin-locks but gaurantee they hold pressure or you can return them. The shipping costs of $41.02 add to the price. Total cost from them for 3 cornys would be $157.87 or $52.62 a corny but with no risk. I think paying $33.33 a corny and assuming the risk might just be worth it. If all 3 fail to hold pressure then I guess I get burned. Outside of there being a hole in the keg itself can all the fittings and such be repaired if I find out they don't hold pressure?
KIAKillerXJ
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Unless there is a puncture, which is pretty unlikely IMO, everything else can be rebuilt. Lid orings, poppets, and post orings are all their really is-- oh, and the relief valve.
ShadyBrewer
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I actually bought three kegs from this Craigslist ad. He has mostly pin lock. The guy was really cool and actually let me bring my co2 tank and check to see if they held pressure. Some of the kegs had plastic lids though (which I didn't notice until I cleaned them off). To be honest, there were slim pickings for the ball locks and I might've gotten the last three that held pressure. But with o-ring sets so cheap on eBay, you really have nothing to lose. Good luck
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Psycotte
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I picked up 6 pin lock ones for $190. They still had the seals from company and plastic caps on the fittings and they are full of syrup. I got them home and had to depressurize one to empty it. I now have 5 more to clean. I think I got a good deal. Left is pre-TLC and the right I cleaned up.
Iv'e just starting brewing and have been looking for kegs for the last week. Im from MN and a lot of the ball lock corny kegs have been going anywhere from 40 to 60. Iv'e lost my patience emailing and calling and just ordered a couple of the internet instead. Refurbished for 55$ and shipping and another 3$ for new orings.
