The End of Ball Lock Kegs?

[Skarekrough]

At my LHBS yesterday I was asking about kegs and availability.

They responded something to the effect that since Pepsi had now found a use for the kegs overseas they would no longer be selling them off.

Thusly the LHBS had no confidence that they would be getting any in any time soon.

Anyone know anything about this? It seemed a little shaky on facts.

 

[Kaz]

My LHBS told me they hadn't been able to get them for weeks and weren't sure they would ever be able to get more.

 

[doobliebop]

I've heard the same thing. Whatever the stores have now may be all they're going to get...

 

[user 21663]

Seeing the same here. Prices on most online stores have gone up dramatically as well, which I see as a supply shortage.

 

[Ace_Club]

Not really a big deal. I see it as you have 1 of 2 options:

1) Sell off your supply of ball locks at the new premium price and use the proceeds to buy equal or more pin locks.

2) Purchase the cheaper pin locks and either split your connectors or use the new ball lock converter posts.

 

[kpr121]

2) Purchase the cheaper pin locks and either split your connectors or use the new ball lock converter posts.

This is what I plan on doing once the prices of ball locks become unbearable. Until then, I am trying to stock up as much as possible.

If I were just getting into kegging right now, I would def. seriously consider a pin lock setup, despite the past and current popularity of ball locks. I think the main reason why ball locks became the more popular choice is that they are smaller in diameter, so most people can fit more kegs in their keezers/kegerators.

 

[timbudtwo]

crap.
I just started kegging, and literally ordered my first set of ball locks 3 days ago.
F word

 

[Kaz]

I started with 2 ball lock cornies at Christmas, I just ordered four more to bring my total to 6. I thought 6 would be plenty for the future, but now I'm thinking I should order 4 more whether I need them or not..

 

[Yuri_Rage]

These "alarms" get posted once every few months. Cornelius style kegs have been obsolete (or close to it) in the commercial beverage industry for a long time. However, so far, there hasn't been a founded reason to be overly concerned about their availability. The market for old kegs is just like any other - it has its ups and downs. So far, no one is out of stock. Mostly, these posts tend to encourage hoarding, which does (at least temporarily) affect the market.

 

[timbudtwo]

These "alarms" get posted once every few months. Cornelius style kegs have been obsolete (or close to it) in the commercial beverage industry for a long time. However, so far, there hasn't been a founded reason to be overly concerned about their availability. The market for old kegs is just like any other - it has its ups and downs. So far, no one is out of stock. Mostly, these posts tend to encourage hoarding, which does (at least temporarily) affect the market.

Thanks. Only started brewing about a year ago (a bit after I turned 21) so I have not seen market trends within this hobby yet.

 

[duckmanco]

crap.
I just started kegging, and literally ordered my first set of ball locks 3 days ago.
F word

Same here man, literally just pulled the trigger on a 3 keg setup with ball locks, and now see pin locks everywhere for much cheaper. Oh well, I'm gonna order a few more and quit worrying about it.

 

[bumstigedy]

It looks like you can buy brand new ones for $130 to $140 from online vendors. So it's not really the end of ball lock kegs, just the end of reasonably priced used ones.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003V5E976/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

http://www.northernbrewer.com/default/ball-lock-soda-keg-5-gal.html

If someone has bought any of these new ones, can you comment on them? I would hope they are really nice for that price. NB's website says that the poppets can't be removed which could be a problem if one started to leak.

 

[DeafSmith]

I dug up this thread on another forum from 7 years ago. FWIW

http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=3121

 

[Yambor44]

It looks like you can buy brand new ones for $130 to $140 from online vendors. So it's not really the end of ball lock kegs, just the end of reasonably priced used ones.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003V5E976/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

http://www.northernbrewer.com/default/ball-lock-soda-keg-5-gal.html

If someone has bought any of these new ones, can you comment on them? I would hope they are really nice for that price. NB's website says that the poppets can't be removed which could be a problem if one started to leak.

I bought 2 from my LHBS about 2-3 months ago. They seem fine to me. I prefer the 2 rubber handle style if anyone has a source for new ones. I'm pretty sure I removed the poppets to clean them too.

 

[lamppa]

I dug up this thread on another forum from 7 years ago. FWIW

http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=3121

thank you for this!!!

I really want 4 more but was going to wait for a few months, I was concened for a minute!

 

[Skarekrough]

These "alarms" get posted once every few months. Cornelius style kegs have been obsolete (or close to it) in the commercial beverage industry for a long time. However, so far, there hasn't been a founded reason to be overly concerned about their availability. The market for old kegs is just like any other - it has its ups and downs. So far, no one is out of stock. Mostly, these posts tend to encourage hoarding, which does (at least temporarily) affect the market.

It was not my intention to encourage hoarding. As someone with five kegs and looking to buy in the near future....whatever the opposite of hoarding is....that's what would be of benefit to me.

I posted because my LHBS which usually has a display front and center when you walk in of a dozen kegs or more didn't have any. Since I'm at a point in brewing where I could crank out a few batches now and avoid the Summer months (I'm a fat man...the notion of a hot season and a hot stove has about as much appeal to be as jogging).

The response was slightly cryptic. A week later I went back and got the same answer from them. As they tend to be very locally-oriented it made sense for me to ask on here.

*shrugs*

Like I said, it was not my intention to drive up the price. If I could do the opposite of that I would!

 

[Cybershadow]

I went to all my LHBS's and they all said they cannot get corny's anymore. It seems that they are only available online now. Both stores told me they will have to go strictly to new corny kegs. Apparently their suppliers can't get them anymore.

Anyone else have this problem with their LHBS?

 

[weirdboy]

It has been decades since any place has actually served beverages in those kegs (aside from homebrewers of course). The world supply of used cornies was bound to run out some time.

 

[Ace_Club]

There are still lots of places to get them. Online, CL, etc.

 

[bob1852]

LHBS can still get 'em. They just can't make the profit on them that they used to...

 

[Patirck]

My local lhbs had a big shipment coming in a few months ago when I was there and he told me then that they were the last they would get - and that the price had gone up a lot (I think he said $75). I just bought three more online for about $120 total shipped to my door.

 

[IffyG]

Can't really say I'm surprised. Prices have been steadily climbing since I started brewing in October of 2009. I got my first one for 25 bucks and have paid as much as 45 for my more recent ones.

 

[user 21663]

- and that the price had gone up a lot (I think he said $75). I just bought three more online for about $120 total shipped to my door.

$75 is highway robbery, no matter what the supply is doing.

I have seen the prices going up over the last couple years though.

 

[keeku]

I think we've reached Peak Corny!

Sorry, I had to.

 

[FromZwolle]

this is the best deal i was able to find. cl is always dry for me.

http://www.homebrewing.org/Set-of-Four-5-Gallon-Pin-Lock-Cornelius-Kegs_p_1549.html

 

[knotquiteawake]

I think we've reached Peak Corny!

Sorry, I had to.

Its good you bring this up. We really need to begin to find alternative draft systems. Soon we won't be able to get any cornys here in the US, we will be totally reliant on Foreign cornys. The time to act is now, for the future of our young homebrewers.

 

[IffyG]

this is the best deal i was able to find. cl is always dry for me.

http://www.homebrewing.org/Set-of-Four-5-Gallon-Pin-Lock-Cornelius-Kegs_p_1549.html

Not a bad deal if you are just getting into the hobby or use pin locks. Sadly, most of us use ball locks (but I suppose you could get the conversion kits if you really wanted to).

 

[smokinghole]

It has been decades since any place has actually served beverages in those kegs (aside from homebrewers of course). The world supply of used cornies was bound to run out some time.

I was at an amusement park over the summer that still uses cornys. Knoebels http://www.knoebels.com/pdfs/2011catercomp_sm.pdf

If you click on that link you can see they sell soda by the 5 gallon tank for catered events. Not trying to prove you wrong but just enlighten the crowd that there are places still operating with cornys.

Plus I think they are commonplace in laboratories for DI water storage.

 

[FromZwolle]

Not a bad deal if you are just getting into the hobby or use pin locks. Sadly, most of us use ball locks (but I suppose you could get the conversion kits if you really wanted to).

i use both.

 

[jafo28]

Picked up five ball locks a couple weeks ago, two for me three for my brother inlaw, they were $35 a piece at the LHBS. They had more there too.