Cornelius and Firestone kegs...

[ChrisS]

Are they the same thing if they are both ball lock or pin lock? I am looking at a ebay site that is selling both and with the line that the two shipped are the next two in line so one might be one and the other may be different.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Both ball....just different manufacturers which may result in getting different poppets.

I've tried to standardize all my posts and poppets to one configuration, but haven't been lucky enough yet.

 

[Bugeaterbrewing]

All the external connections will be the same on all ball lock kegs. Most ball locks will have oval shaped lids which are interchangeable between different brands of kegs (even most pin lock). A few older style ball locks will have what's known as a "race track" lid on which the sides are straight instead of rounded. All race track lids are interchangeable between kegs of that type.

You will notice a difference in the base of the posts on various ball lock kegs. Most of the liquid posts will take a 7/8" deep hex socket although you will find some with a 9/16" hex base. The gas posts will also be found in both sizes. However, some gas posts will have a 12 pointed base instead of a six pointed base. Any standard 12 point deep socket of the right overall size will work on both posts.

The biggest difference between types of ball lock kegs comes in the threads on the fitting onto which you screw the posts. On some kegs, both posts have the same threads but on many the two are different sizes. The sizes of the fittings for gas or liquid posts are not uniform between different brands of kegs either. For this reason you can seldom convert pin lock kegs into ball locks (or vice versa). To see the difference check out the link called keg thread sizes on this site: http://www.ipass.net/mpdixon/ That site also has all sorts of other great brewing info.

Inside the posts, you are a little luckier. There are only 2 or 3 different poppet sizes, so you don't need to keep a lot of different sizes around. You seldom have to replace these so there isn't much of a problem with that anyway.

Hope this helps a little.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

 

[abracadabra]

Your best bet is to either ask the seller or specify the type of post you want (ball or pin) so that you won't have any unpleasant suprises. Most likely they are ball locks as these are the most common. But it's better to be safe than sorry. Other questions to ask is. Are they single or double handle? Do they have a garantee that they will hold pressure? Also some of the old Firestone cornies have plastic pressure relief valves that may be functional but have cracks in the plastic (think places for infections to hide) and you will find it difficult if not impossible to find replacement parts for those Pressure relief valves. Not only that a new lid will cost as much as a used corny or more. But Firestone and Cornellius are just manufactors of corny kegs there are others too so I would not think it's a safe bet to assume a specific type connector based on Manufactor. But I suppose it's possible they only made 1 or the other type. Most Mfg. would make whatever they could sell.
Also some sellers may say Cornelius but in reality just mean corny keg.
As the name (Cornelius Keg) has lost it's brand ID much like Band-Aid.