Ball Locks Going Extinct?

[SkewedBrewing]

I recently got my CO2 refilled and the guy I go to, NFC Carbonic on Leavitt (great place for Northern Chicagoans), and I asked if he had any ball lock cornies he could sell.

He said that he only had pin lock and that his ball lock supply had dried out a while ago because more and more are being sent to China for scrap.

I have heard this before but didn't think that the supply of ball lock cornies was dwindling that bad.

Is this just an isolated situation or are used ball locks really disappearing like classy girls at a fraternity after party?

 

[indolent]

Why would ball lock be any different than pin lock as far as scrap is concerned?

 

[TerapinChef]

Sounds a bit sketchy to me. If what I remember is correct, they're still using them in Japan, as the bag-in-box system hasn't caught on over there.

 

[InfernoBrews]

Over in the PA area there all over! havent heard any stories of them drying up.. Nor have i seen any signs of it....

 

[SkewedBrewing]

That's what I figured/assumed but I just wanted to hear what you guys thought.

Seeing as I already have a ball lock set up I wasn't about to switch to pin lock because this guy didn't want to sell them...

 

[jpc]

I have heard rumors of scrap stainless being worth more than the corny was worth, but I think that's tripe, especially now that the economy has contracted to the point that China isn't buying anything that isn't nailed down.

There is another issue, though. The major source of ball-lock kegs was Pepsi. They have now converted over to the "bag in a box" systems pretty much anywhere, and they have completely gone away from the cornies. I talked to one guy who worked with one regional Pepsi bottler (they sold him ALL their old stock... kegs, coolers, vending machines, etc., for resale), and he said that when his current supply is exhausted, that's it... no more to be had.

I would imagine that homebrewers, exterminators, and window tinters are going to be the only ones using them in a few years, and will fight over the finite supply of used kegs, causing prices to rise.

 

[SkewedBrewing]

Damn, the economics of Homebrewing...

I noticed that Pop companies have transitioned to the "bag in a box" in the past few years, too, so that's another reason why I was questioning whether cornies were dwindling or not.

I have noticed, however, that some local breweries have started using cornies for kegging instead of Sankes and I thought that was a good idea, but on the flip side it takes away our supply...

I suppose I should bite the bullet and stock up on a few sooner rather than later...

 

[madjbs]

Virtually all of Asia still uses kegs for soft drinks. A second hand Corney costs over $100 here in Thailand and they are very difficult to source as the soft drink companies wont sell them.

 

[remilard]

People have been saying since I bought my first soda keg several years ago that the supply was drying up, going to china, etc.

Now clearly this things are more or less not in production and clearly some of them will go to scrap instead of home brewers.

If you have room to store them and you have the cash flow, just buy as many as you think you will need (10-20 is reasonable for most homebrewers) and stop worrying about it.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are still easily available for < $30 in another 5 years.

 

[the_bird]

I'm sure that twenty or thirty years down the road, it'll be harder to find cornie kegs (and especially keg parts), but we're a long way from that. I can't imagine that even when stainless was at its peak the scrap value of cornie kegs was anywhere close to their value as, well... kegs. Sankes, yes, scrap value > deposit (in many areas), which was/is a real issue. If they become harder to source, it'll be because they aren't used as much domestically, so even if they ARE used in Asia, they'll have to be imported.

 

[bottle-o-jeff]

The price of stainless has dropped significantly over the past year. Scrap prices have done the same. I'd suspect that less are going to scrap now than were going this time last year or the year before.

 

[smellysell]

I have heard rumors of scrap stainless being worth more than the corny was worth, but I think that's tripe, especially now that the economy has contracted to the point that China isn't buying anything that isn't nailed down.

There is another issue, though. The major source of ball-lock kegs was Pepsi. They have now converted over to the "bag in a box" systems pretty much anywhere, and they have completely gone away from the cornies. I talked to one guy who worked with one regional Pepsi bottler (they sold him ALL their old stock... kegs, coolers, vending machines, etc., for resale), and he said that when his current supply is exhausted, that's it... no more to be had.

I would imagine that homebrewers, exterminators, and window tinters are going to be the only ones using them in a few years, and will fight over the finite supply of used kegs, causing prices to rise.

I got a couple at the scrapyard the other day at scrap price with was $1.00 a pound. Spent $19 on two of them.

 

[chris1979]

the value of the stainless may have been high a year ago but scrap metal price have gone way done way in the past year. most of the prices arent even have half what they were a year ago. so i doubt theres any validity to that. but im still picking every one up that i can and all the parts i can find. and you can still pick up brand new ones that says alot.

 

[InfernoBrews]

I was told by Someone japan is still using them for thier pop Systems because they arfe a lil behinf in the Times and do not have the Bag in the Box System Yet..

 

[CustomCrownCaps]

That means that I am gonna have to invent...BEER IN A BAG IN A BOX!!

 

[SkewedBrewing]

Bagged beer? It could be like Franzia...

From what I've read, everything that everyone has mentioned so far is pretty much true. Stainless prices went up and have since gone way down, causing a lot of cornies to be sold for scrap but not nearly enough to dry up the supply.

 

[Nugu]

Just got 6 for 16.6$ each, should of got more but I didn't want to piss off my old man since I had him pick up and drive them back 3 states (He was visiting family in the area).

If you're near KY and interested ¥ .(¯`*&#8226;.¸(¯`*&#8226;.¸ Barrels/Buckets/Drums/Tanks/Totes¸.&#8226;*´¯)¸.&#8226;*´¯). ¥

Got a 15 gallon Dr Pepper (I know that smell) syrup HDPE jug for 10$ for Apfelwein making if I like my first batch as well.

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

THANKS! I'm in Louisville and this is a great find. I need one of the fiber drums.

Hmmm, a 275 gal fermenter for $110

 

[Nugu]

You know, now I wish I'd got a plastic drum. I wasn't even thinking till now but that've made a pretty sweet grain container.

 

[KUbrew]

I recently got my CO2 refilled and the guy I go to, NFC Carbonic on Leavitt (great place for Northern Chicagoans), and I asked if he had any ball lock cornies he could sell.

He said that he only had pin lock and that his ball lock supply had dried out a while ago because more and more are being sent to China for scrap.

Any idea what their prices are on pin locks? I've been looking for some but have been pretty unsuccessful so far in finding pin locks.

 

[SkewedBrewing]

Any idea what their prices are on pin locks? I've been looking for some but have been pretty unsuccessful so far in finding pin locks.

Their pin locks are 30 for one (completely rebuilt) or 4 for 100, tax free if you pay in cash I believe.

 

[david_42]

China purchased a large number (as in millions) of cornies for the Olympics.

At 39 cents a pound for stainless (as of 5/5/8), I think very few of them are headed for the scrap heap today.