Best place to buy kegs

[Peterbrew]

Hi guys
What's everyone reckon of the 19l kegs on eBay for about $120? They are 304SS, Brewmart has them for $160 or $130, what's the difference?

http://www.brewmart.com.au/brewmart-shop/catalogue/?CATID=416&CLN=1

I've had a look at second hand ones are they any good? Just run a seal kit through them?

Any advice would be welcome thank you

 

[Bonenose]

All mine are second hand, bought from gumtree or similar. Few dings etc. I just put new set of seals on them and no issues. I was able to have a good look at them before I bought however so knew what I was getting.

 

[pnorkle]

Mate, if you’re SOR, TWOC in Bibra Lake does recon kegs at $102.

Edit: And I’ve just seen that Bulk Brewing Supplies do them for $75.

 

[ABG]

I just bought a few from Keg Land @ $102 for brand new kegs. They also have a video showing what to look out for when buying kegs

.

Keg King are keeping them honest with kegs at $105. Great times for home brewers buying kegs.

The previous keg I bought cost me $160 and is made in Italy - the Keg Land and Keg King ones are made in China. In terms of functionality, the Keg Land kegs work just as well. I looked closely at the inside of my corny and couldn't see any issues - for all intents and purposes, it's as good as my Italian made keg. How it stands up to time, I guess I'll know in about a year, but Keg Land have a 5 year warranty. I've never bought from Keg King, so can't comment on their quality.

 

[Peterbrew]

Mate, if you’re SOR, TWOC in Bibra Lake does recon kegs at $102.

Edit: And I’ve just seen that Bulk Brewing Supplies do them for $75.

TWOC is my closest shop actually!
Yet to check out Bulk Brewing Supplies. Thanks mate

 

[Peterbrew]

Thanks for the reply all

 

[HaveFun]

TWOC is my closest shop actually!
Yet to check out Bulk Brewing Supplies. Thanks mate

I shop all the time at bulk brewing supplies - the owner is a very nice helpful guy. The prices are much cheaper than anywhere else. Check out his Grain prices and what he don't stock you get at TWOC

The last few kegs I got from here for $57 delivered..

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/19L-2nd...Brew-Coffee-/302898651520?hash=item46862aa180

I only replaced the O-Rings:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5pcs-Pi...h=item25f3c3dba4:g:RTsAAOSwCDZa1aIC:rk:3:pf:0

Cheers
Stefan

 

[Peterbrew]

I shop all the time at bulk brewing supplies - the owner is a very nice helpful guy. The prices are much cheaper than anywhere else. Check out his Grain prices and what he don't stock you get at TWOC

The last few kegs I got from here for $57 delivered..

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/19L-2nd...Brew-Coffee-/302898651520?hash=item46862aa180

I only replaced the O-Rings:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5pcs-Pi...h=item25f3c3dba4:g:RTsAAOSwCDZa1aIC:rk:3:pf:0

Cheers
Stefan

Beauty cheers Stefan will definitely have a chat them as I've already got 2 X 10l kegs but want a few bigger as I'm sick of bottling

 

[enikoy]

On topic/off topic question. Where do all these second hand kegs at retailers come from? I can understand gumtree type ex-user sales, but why so many through retailers who also sell new?

 

[theSeekerr]

On topic/off topic question. Where do all these second hand kegs at retailers come from? I can understand gumtree type ex-user sales, but why so many through retailers who also sell new?

There's an enormous number of these kegs sitting around in the US and Canada from when they were used to distribute postmix soft drink syrups. They retired them all back in the 90's but they're basically indestructible so they're still around.

Most often when you buy them secondhand they still have a dribble of ancient postmix syrup in there as a little bonus (ugh).

 

[Lionman]

Yeah they were used for post mix by Coke and Pepsi before they introduced the machines that combine the syrup/water/gas on the fly. They are imported from the US by the container load.

Coke used pin locks
Pepsi used ball locks

These older second hand ones, despite their age are usually US made and of very high quality. Sometimes they look a little worse for wear on the outside but more often than not its purely cosmetic and after a clean and a new set of seals perform very well. It would be interesting to see if these Chinese made ones hold up as well after 20+ years. I wonder what the difference are like in the tolerances of some of the more important parts like the posts.

 

[enikoy]

Thanks for that bit of education

 

[altone]

I shop all the time at bulk brewing supplies - the owner is a very nice helpful guy. The prices are much cheaper than anywhere else. Check out his Grain prices and what he don't stock you get at TWOC

The last few kegs I got from here for $57 delivered..

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/19L-2nd...Brew-Coffee-/302898651520?hash=item46862aa180

I only replaced the O-Rings:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5pcs-Pi...h=item25f3c3dba4:g:RTsAAOSwCDZa1aIC:rk:3:pf:0

Cheers
Stefan

That's actually a damned good price for anyone not close to a big retailer that sells used kegs.
I'm in Melbourne so I have a few choices, but for those in warmer places and away from the city - good deal!

All my kegs are used, most 3rd or 4th hand but a clean and a seal kit is all any of them have ever needed.

 

[aster1]

I wonder what the difference are like in the tolerances of some of the more important parts like the posts.

Nail & head there, add a cheap Chinese disconnect and slightly off tolerances on both equal an empty Co2 cylinder. But on the other hand, gas is cheap and damn those Chinese kegs are a bargain nowadays!