Want to start kegging

ball lock is a fair bit more common.
pick one and stick with it. ball lock is the right choice if you have the option, but nobody complains about pin lock (Coca Cola) if they get them for free. same difference. I Phone or Android. Coke or Pepsi. Whatever. There are a lot more ball lock kegs to be had than pin locks though.
Cheers.

 

I do ball lock. It's nice to have quick connects to every post. They are tall and narrow, compared to pin lock kegs that are short and stout. Ball lock are relatively easy to maintain, check for leaks, and easy to assemble. I can't really vouch for pin lock, but I've heard there's no pressure release valve on some (all?) of them.

Keezers are fun because you have so many options. You can stack growlers/6ers on top of the motor hump, or you can build a collar that is taller than your standard 2X4 so that you can fit an extra row of kegs in the freezer. I'm glad that I just have some extra storage space for commercial beer and I don't have to stand on my tippy toes to get kegs into my keezer. Lots of lines running all over the place makes it hard to place a full keg into the keezer. But, that has little to do with ball vs pin.

 

I have both. I started with ball lock, but bought some pin lock because there was a good deal on 3 gal ones. I prefer ball lock because of the pressure release valve.

 

One important aspect is ball lock kegs are taller and skinner, and pin lock are shorter and fatter. I like the ball lock for the pressure release valve. It's worth the extra money to me.

 

I went with ball lock because I looked like it would accommodate clearance tolerances better, and I found a great sale on ball lock kegs. But I think everyone if going to tell you if doesn't matter what you choose. Pin, Ball, or Sanke. They all work great. Go with whatever is cheapest. And if you get a used keg, get some new O rings, and PBW in bulk and clean those posts out. Completely take them apart, soak in PBW, and replace the rings with new ones.

 

what.... pin locks don't have pressure relief valve?

 

They do but they aren't "quick" release. Truth be told I've never used pin lock so my experience on that matter is minimal. From my understanding is you have to use something like a screwdriver to release the pressure as opposed to pulling a pin or valve.

 

I have pin lock and there's no relief valve but it's easy enough to use the little plastic tool or a pen cap or something. When I started looking, pin locks were considerably cheaper so I went with them. I also have one tap that can be easily swapped from sanke to pin lock connections so I can toss a commercial keg in there as needed. I used an older side by side fridge and I set up a three tap system (you can see it in the picture by my name) and I can still fit bottles/cans in there. Kegerator, keezer, pin lock, ball lock, there's really no wrong answer. Once you get your system set up and balanced, having your own beer on tap is pretty awesome no matter whats behind the faucets!

 

I think it was a lot easier 10-15 years ago, when restaurants were giving up corny kegs and the market was flooded with used ones. Most of the really cheap stuff has been snapped up since then, as far as I know.

 

the only real option is if you know a place that is closing and the kegs are abandoned. it does happen. when a restaurant or bar closes, it is almost always with no advance notice. they just lock the door one day. the supplier can't get in to retrieve the kegs and eventually stops trying.

the other way to get them for free is to steal it. and that is not a good idea.
Cheers.

 

Best bet is craigslit. Never seen them for free but seen them as low as $30. Most people sell used ones for @$50.

 

As a tip: make sure any fitting you get (ball lock or pin lock) has 1/4" male threads, and you put 1/4" swivel nuts on your keg lines. That way you can swap out fittings easily.