Corny Kegs - what's going on?

[insanim8er]

I live in Portland Oregon, and I'm starting to notice 5 gal corny kegs have slowly been going up in price. (Or so the asking prices have been) on Craig's list. I'm also seeing less and less being offered. They were around $40, then $45...$50 now I'm seeing them for a lot more.

This guy is asking $75 for his in Salem (hour south of PDX)


I emailed him asking if it came filled with $30 of coins, he replied, "No its filled with air!!!!!."

Anyone else notice this? What prices are being asked, and how much are you willing to pay for used corny kegs in your area?

I personally own a LOT of 5gal corny kegs, and I have never paid more than $20/ea.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I don't get it either, but it's been that way in the few years I've been brewing.

 

[mikecz]

In St. Louis they were $20 about 6 years ago. They have steadily gone up in price since then due to supply and demand. A lot more people are brewing and kegging their beers, and the number of available kegs is getting smaller and smaller. Now the kegs are around $60/$65 here. I have nine and that is enough, but I'd get a few more for the right price!

 

[day_trippr]

So, you're been out of the loop for a decade, at least.

Enjoy your $20 kegs, because it'll be a hella rare day to find another...

Cheers!

 

[masonsjax]

Most of the used soda kegs have been sold to china for scrap. It's a supply and demand situation.

 

[NTXBrauer]

There are more and more people every day jumping into the craft and brewing beer at home, and I see this trend continuing. As kegging your own beer also grows in popularity, the demand on used corny kegs will continue to rise.

 

[SavoryChef]

get in on a group buy from these guys http://www.mceverdistrib.com/5gal-pepsi-pre-mix-tanks
I bought a pallet of 60 and kept 15 for me and sold the rest off. The final cost with shipping was $45 for ball lock and $35 for pins

 

[budonze]

I paid 60/ea at my lhbs for 2 of my ball lock kegs. Just picked up 2 off craigslist for 40/ea. that was the lowest price I've seen for ball locks.


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[insanim8er]

So, you're been out of the loop for a decade, at least.

Enjoy your $20 kegs, because it'll be a hella rare day to find another...

Cheers!

No I've been brewing 2 years. I know $20/keg is rare. But I find the deals. I just got 13 of them for $20/ea a week ago. But that was a bulk incredible find. That's why I posted this. I am going to sell them and saw the prices and though wtf?

 

[Hello]

I'm still waiting for my cute little keg...

Are you talking about pin lock? Are all corny kegs pin lock because I thought they were ball or pin. I have paid $35, $40, $45, $69 (x2), and $79 for my ball lock kegs. The $40 is still in the back of my truck waiting to be tested.

 

[insanim8er]

I'm still waiting for my cute little keg...

I'm literally on my way home from the beach now. I haven't forgotten.

 

[budonze]

I know in my area (Detroit), pin locks go for around 30-35 bucks and are readily available. I debated switching my system over... But laziness set in!!


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[Hello]

I'm literally on my way home from the beach now. I haven't forgotten.

Man I was so messing with you! I'm serious...no rush. I've spent so much this week it's sick.

 

[insanim8er]

I know in my area (Detroit), pin locks go for around 30-35 bucks and are readily available. I debated switching my system over... But laziness set in!!


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Ya this I don't understand. Everyone seems to shy away from pin lock and I don't get it. A simple 1/4" fpt to barb makes it easy to swap couplers.

I get that some pin lock kegs are short and wide. And some don't have a pressure relief valve. But other than that, what's the issue?

 

[fearwig]

Kegconnection.com has $40 pin locks with $7 shipping per order. Come with a set of o rings. Seriously considering bulk buying, putting in rings, and reselling for $60. Maryland keg prices are nuts. I'm sitting around waiting for a 20lb CO2 tank to come on sale locally for less than $90 (ebay price, shipped). So far no luck.

 

[masonsjax]

I can't fit 4 pin locks in my keezer, but 4 ball locks fit perfectly.

For co2, oxugen, or nitrogen tanks, email Scott:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f16/40-20-co2-tanks-415193/

 

[fearwig]

Hmm, that's really not bad. I sent him an email for an estimate.

EDIT: and... told him I'll be sending the check Monday (paaayday). Thanks for the tip! Now if this craigslist guy I lowballed gets back to me I can still make a little scratch on resale (or he'll sell them all in ten minutes, given the market).

 

[patthebrewer]

To the OP's question. The prices for cornies are going up all over. It's simple supply and demand, they aren't being used anymore as the soda industry has moved away from them. So they aren't being made in the same quantity, and all of us try feverishly to get our hands on kegs that, eventually no longer be available.

 

[DrunkleJon]

To the OP's question. The prices for cornies are going up all over. It's simple supply and demand, they aren't being used anymore as the soda industry has moved away from them. So they aren't being made in the same quantity, and all of us try feverishly to get our hands on kegs that, eventually no longer be available.

They are still being made new for homebrewers. I am seeing new ones all the time though they are $100-150+ apiece new. Kinda hurts the wallet, especially when you can get new 5 gal sankeys for around the same price point and they are thicker, though harder to clean.

When I started kegging 2 years ago I was seeing ball locks for $45 apiece not including shipping, and have seen craigslist charges of $55. Now I am seeing them 65-70 apiece and refuse to pay that much for a dirty potentially tempremental keg. I may just sell off my corneys and see what kind of deal/logistics I can work out to start using sankeys exclusively.

 

[MrFoodScientist]

Cornies are still being used for soda, just not as widely. True they are being used less and less, but as long as someone is serving concessions at fairgrounds where they have no access to water for BIB, there will be a need for pre mix soda. Someone mentioned in another post somewhere that they had talked with the McEvers distributor guys in FL and they said their main customers were people running concessions.

I have nothing to back me up on the following, but I do think that supply/demand is an issue as well as just higher prices for scrap metal in general increasing.

New ball locks are still being made for homebrewers and soda. CHI company has had new ball locks with black rubber chimes for quite some time, though the price on those has gone up in the last three years as well from about $90 to $125 today. I wouldn't be surprised if you start seeing used up to $100 and new up to $150 in 3 to 4 years time. At that point, I also wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of new homebrewers jump directly into sankeys, but the ease of cleaning cornies will likely keep them in use with people who've been using them already.

 

[Weezy]

I'm thinking of moving to sankes due to the corny prices and it seems like at least once a year I'll lose my 5lb co2 tank to a leaker. Sick of dealing with the things.

 

[insanim8er]

I'm thinking of moving to sankes due to the corny prices and it seems like at least once a year I'll lose my 5lb co2 tank to a leaker. Sick of dealing with the things.

Because I scored 13 beautiful corny kegs (and hardly ever have issues with them) I just posted 7 of my sankey 5 gal on craigslist... I'm hoping I don't regret selling them.

On the other hand a guy posted 4 ball locks, 2 carboys and a 20lb co2 cylinder for $150. I could sell the carboys for $25/ea sell the co2 for $50 and walk away with 4 ball lock corny kegs for $50

So there are still deals to be had I guess. I emailed him saying I'd take them, but in guessing since they were posted 16hr ago, I'm late to the game.

 

[jbaysurfer]

No I've been brewing 2 years. I know $20/keg is rare. But I find the deals. I just got 13 of them for $20/ea a week ago. But that was a bulk incredible find. That's why I posted this. I am going to sell them and saw the prices and though wtf?

Are you going to sell them for more then 20 dollars? Congrats..you answered your own question "Corny Kegs- what's going on?"

 

[insanim8er]

Are you going to sell them for more then 20 dollars? Congrats..you answered your own question "Corny Kegs- what's going on?"

Yes but if you read, $20 is a rare deal. Seeing them for $45/50 is normal (or was) now I'm seeing $60-75

I understand demand brings up the price, but what I'm getting at is are they really becoming limited to justify the recent price hike I'm starting to see.

 

[jbaysurfer]

Yes but if you read, $20 is a rare deal. Seeing them for $45/50 is normal (or was) now I'm seeing $60-75

I understand demand brings up the price, but what I'm getting at is are they really becoming limited to justify the recent price hike I'm starting to see.

Without knowing the exact numbers on supply and demand, I can't really justify it one way or another. We could find out that we should've bought all we could get at $60 I guess.

All I know is that when my LHBS can't justify stocking/refurbing them because they won't make any money selling them at $60 each...then there's a serious supply shortage.

I got all mine in the 40-50 range, and to be honest, that's a lot of stainless and technology for 50 bucks. I think about how much kettles cost or even how much new sankes cost wholesale for breweries, and I'm not so appalled.

Anyway, I guess I'm just not as surprised as you seem to be, but my post above was just my weak attempt at humor.

 

[dobe12]

As I'm sure others have stated... a lot more home brewers buying them up.... the soda companies not using/making them anymore. Simple as that. My brew club has done a few group buys in the past. A local place sold damaged kegs (missing handles, banged up pretty bad, etc) for about $25 each. I guess those days are long gone. If I knew then, I would have bought quite a few more. Oh well.

 

[abeasst]

They are being shipped overseas for scrap. They can get more money scrapping them than selling them to the public.

 

[insanim8er]

I got all mine in the 40-50 range, and to be honest, that's a lot of stainless and technology for 50 bucks. I think about how much kettles cost or even how much new sankes cost wholesale for breweries, and I'm not so appalled.

I totally agree. They're worth it in the simple fact that I don't have to deal with bottles, cleaning, storage...etch plus my beer is ready faster and cleaner because I don't have to prime with sugar.

I guess those days are long gone. If I knew then, I would have bought quite a few more. Oh well.

And this brings up my other reason for bringing this topic up! I have probably over 25 five gal corny kegs. I was going to sell off several,but now I'm wondering if I should hoard them! lol ultimately driving up the cost more I suppose...

They are being shipped overseas for scrap. They can get more money scrapping them than selling them to the public.

Really? I have heard this, but I wouldn't think scrap prices would exceed $50/ea but scraping them moves them a lot faster than selling individually.

 

[BBBF]

IAnd this brings up my other reason for bringing this topic up! I have probably over 25 five gal corny kegs. I was going to sell off several,but now I'm wondering if I should hoard them! lol ultimately driving up the cost more I suppose...

Stop investing in your 401K and put it all into cornies! :fro:

 

[fearwig]

Really? I have heard this, but I wouldn't think scrap prices would exceed $50/ea but scraping them moves them a lot faster than selling individually.

If you add in finding someone to sell them, repair them, set up a storefront, logistics, etc., etc., it probably makes good sense to scrap them if you can get even $20/ea, if you're working at any kind of scale. Shame, though.

I really want to load up at kegconnection, but convincing my wife I'm really going to resell the "extras" and not keep them may be another matter.