corny kegs ball lock or pin lock

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by csurowiec, Jan 21, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. csurowiec

    csurowiec Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2010 Maryland

    I am going to begin homebrewing (yes I've been reading How to Brew by Palmer) and would like to keg it instead of bottles because I already have a fridge converted to a kegerator. I don't know a thing about corny kegs. Is one design style better than the other? Is maybe one of them easier to disassemble and clean or does it not really matter? So, do I get pin lock or ball lock kegs?
     
    #1 csurowiec, Jan 21, 2013
  2. carteravebrew

    carteravebrew Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2010 Colorado

    Ball lock kegs are becoming high in demand and getting more expensive every day.

    When I first started kegging 3 years ago, re-conditioned ball locks were $35 from my favorite on-line retailer (you could probably find them cheaper), and when I just checked today, they are up to $70 with a limit of 4 per customer from the same site. Pin locks on the same site are $50.

    If you're just starting out and don't have anything for one or the other, I'd recommend going pin lock. I've never used them, but everything I've read indicates they are just as easy to use, and they are currently much cheaper.

    $0.02
     
    #2 carteravebrew, Jan 21, 2013
  3. TheMonkfish

    TheMonkfish Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2012 Chad

    If there are any concerns about capacity in your keg fridge you may want to factor that into the decision. Ball locks are taller and thinner / pin locks are slightly shorter and thicker.
     
    #3 TheMonkfish, Jan 21, 2013
  4. leedorham

    leedorham Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2006 Washington

    This is honestly the biggest factor for me. I can't fit two pin locks in my kegerator.
     
    #4 leedorham, Jan 21, 2013
  5. csurowiec

    csurowiec Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2010 Maryland

    A standard 1/2 bbl fits just fine. It's a regular full size fridge with a beefy wooden framed bottom dressed up with laminate flooring from a home improvement project to distribute weight evenly. It's not a beautiful conversion but quite functional.
     
    #5 csurowiec, Jan 21, 2013
  6. rocdoc1

    rocdoc1 Savant (1,215) Jan 13, 2006 New Mexico

    I've gotten a bunch of both types over the years. I actually prefer the pin lock because you can't possible screw up and put the gas on the beer side, but with at least a couple of ball lock kegs I can fit 6 in my fridge as opposed to just 5 pinlocks. But given the prices and decreasing availability I'd buy whatever you can find.
     
    #6 rocdoc1, Jan 21, 2013
  7. dfess1

    dfess1 Initiate (0) May 20, 2003 Pennsylvania

    I've got a mixture of both. I swapped out the pinlock fittings for ball lock fittings. In hindsight, I probably didn't have to worry about it. I have a Sears Kenmore kegerator, with the compressor hump on the top. I can slide a pinlock keg under it, and two ball locks in front, along with a bottle of CO2 and a bottle of Beergas for a total of 3 beers on tap, at one time. Other than the fittings, they are the same.
     
    #7 dfess1, Jan 21, 2013
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.