Ball lock or pin lock kegs?

[Fierce Beard]

Hey, the topic says it all. I'm about to buy a kegging system, and there seem to be two types of connections out there - the ball and the pin locks, respectively. Other than a slight difference in price, I haven't noticed anything that points to the advantages of one over the other.

If anybody has a preference, please let me know what it is (and why)!

Thanks!

[snowcapt]

Ball locks are skinny and tall. Pins are shorter and fatter. Maybe a 2 to 3 inches either way.
I have the ball lock. They were easy to find and I can fit 6 of them in my kegerator with a 2'' X 10" collar. Not sure if that would happen with the wider ones.

[one_dead_soul]

i have both. to tell you the truth it dosn't matter. the hieght and width difference is very minimal. i can fit 6 of eather in my fridge. the cost is allmost exactly the same. ive found the gaskets to be universal. my only suggestion would be just keep all ball or pin lock. it gets real anoying having seperate parts. if you get pin you need a special socket. but you can make one for cheep. i prefer pin but that thats what i started with so im just more use to them. that and i think the disconnects easier to get on and off. but that may just be me. i say just get wich ever one is cheaper. realisticly ball locks are easier to find parts and stuff for also. hope that helps

cheers
tom

[captain carrot]

Get the ball locks if you can and stick with the one type.
Good Luck!

[foomench]

The ball locks are more common and that's what most of my brewing friends have. But I have pin locks because that slight bit of difference in height meant that many years ago when I had a small ~4 cubic foot fridge, the kegs would fit, where ball locks would not. I'm happy with the pin locks and have six of them now. The only problem I have is that when I want to serve at a party with friends I need to take some of my fittings with me.

[keelanfish]

I'm just getting into kegging as well and have had trouble finding used ball lock corny kegs, so I just bought pin locks. I don't really see that much difference. Someone before mentioned that for pin locks you can make the socket needed for cheep. I did this using a file, and it was a pain in the ass. The metal sockets are made from is really, really hard. I still have blisters from that endevor, but I saved about $10...

Once I get totally set up, I plan on having both types of kegs assuming I can eventually find good deals on ball locks. I'm going to use the ball locks for normal brews and the pin locks for anything funky with bret, lacto, etc. Seems like an easy way to ensure no cross contamination.

Good luck, keep us posted about your progress.

[Adam]

Pin vs ball, one is Pepsi and one is Coke. Talking with some homebrewers they tell me they use pin lock kegs for sour beers so they keep the lines separate from other beers.

[foomench]

Pin lock socket:
$14.95 http://morebeer.com/view_product/18277/ ... ock_Socket
$12.95 http://www.cornykeg.com/catalog.asp?prodid=674888
$9.95 http://www.kegkits.com/Merchant2/mercha ... Code=Tools
I probably got mine from my LHBS or morebeer. If I were to make one, I would probably use a Dremel, maybe an angle grinder.