New Vs 2nd Hand Kegs

[UsernameTaken]

Just wondering the pros and cons of purchasing brand new 19 litre post mix kegs versus second hand?

I realise it largely depends on the condition of the 2nd hand ones. But as a general rule have people had more joy or drama from 2nd hand ones?

For example is the post mix syrup easy to remove if some remains? And do seals or any other fittings often need to be replaced?

Thanks,
UNT

 

[Lord Raja Goomba I]

And the extra question - how have people found the new kegs? I've recently acquired 2 keg king new ones with rubber handles on the way to getting together a keg system in the next few months. One is unused. Any joy/issues on these?

 

[Coodgee]

Much of a muchness mate. It comes down to price and whether the second hand ones are reconditioned or not. If you get clean & reconditioned second hand ones then they are the same as new ones but not as shiny on the outside. If they are not reconditioned or clean then you need to change the seals (which is dead easy) and give it a soak in sodium perc etc to get them clean. I gurneyed my secondhand ones on the outside and they came up pretty clean. I have purchased them new before too and they still advise you to give them a bit of a soak anyway to get off any manufacturing residue.

 

[themonkeysback]

I have around 8 or 10 old ones and 6 or 8 new keg king ones.

Now that most of the second hand ones are pushing $80 I would generally only buy new ones. The keg king ones have been great (I am aware that people have had various problems with other keg king products over time, I haven't really bought anything else off them). Having said that most of my old ones are ok, but 2 of them have leaks from somewhere that I haven't yet bother to investigate (may be as simple as a seal issue). I do find that over time the quality of the second hand ones has worsened at the same time that the price has increased, presumably as supply dwindles.

Obviously the keg king ones haven't been around for that long so longevity would be the only question, but I find the build quality (stainless/welds/rubber etc.) looks pretty identical to the old cornelius/other brands.

One other issue with current second hand kegs is that many of them don't have proper pull ring PRVs.

tl;dr: Given the decreasing gap in price of old vs new, I would only buy new.

 

[Fraser's BRB]

And the extra question - how have people found the new kegs? I've recently acquired 2 keg king new ones with rubber handles on the way to getting together a keg system in the next few months. One is unused. Any joy/issues on these?

All I've ever had is the new kegking ones, running 4 of them for just under a year and have had no issues.

Edit: about to receive 2 used ones from the bulk buy so we'll see!

 

[Lethaldog]

I have 8 second hand ones that some came reconditioned and clean and some didn't, very easy to clean and recondition the yourself anyway for about $20-25 per keg and that includes the poppets I have only had a drama with one that still seals but takes a little effort, no big deal, I also have 2 9 liter kegs that I bought new and they are great too but whereas I have had to replace seals in the second hand ones I never have had too in the new ones yet and I've had them for years, I think it has a lot to do with the way you treat them, as said above I would buy new now for the little difference in price but I have all the kegs I need!

 

[Bribie G]

We are getting to a "cusp" here.

When I got into kegging about seven years ago, Ross was doing the famous deal of four kegs, free postage, for about 55 a keg if I remember rightly, maybe less.
That was in the days when there were thousands of old cornies coming onto the market as venues changed from cornies to bag in a box for their post mix syrups.

Since then of course, the old kegs are becoming scarcer and scarcer and prices have gone up. My three best kegs are German, stamped "Made in West Germany" ... that dates them pretty well.

At the same time the new kegs made in China are becoming cheaper and cheaper and pretty soon the new and used prices may intersect, end of saga.

If I were starting out I'd go new. I've had a close look at the new kegs in a couple of LHBS and they are a joy to behold, as long as they are the true cornie design, and not some of the other "wannabee" versions with bottoms pressed on but not welded, etc.

 

[Lord Raja Goomba I]

In my kegging system's previous incarnation, I had the West German versions and they were excellent and $50 each.

 

[UsernameTaken]

Ok. Thank you. New ones it is!

Cheers,
UNT

 

[MickGC]

As others have said, price is getting closer so would go new.
Also, by getting new you end up with all the same keg, of my 5 second hand ones, 2 are tall skinn 23 litre, the other 3 are shorter and fatter but all 3 slightly different,
get all identical new ones, it means one set of spares.