I bought a Macca oval oven, mail order.  THAT was an expensive lesson . . . . . . !  Macca is an American foundry but I think Camp/Dutch ovens are a bit of a sideline because their gear is made in India.  I liked the pictures of the design of this bloody thing but oh,  woe is me !  It cost two arms and one of the wife's legs (the functioning one).  If it had been priced like the el-cheapo Chinese stuff -  well,  that would be fair enough.  But this dollarwise was at the top end.

It has HUNDREDS of pits,  and many are very deep and wide.  The casting is the crudest I have ever seen and it has many scourings,  and lumps protruding.  The lid is utterly out of whack so that it actually ROCKS  !  I've seen sloppy fitting lids before but this is sumpin' else  -  not only does it slip and slide but it rocks too -  sigh.

I know of course that the good folks of Oz are unlikely to come across Macca gear (unless buying online) but in case there are  -  DON'T  !  Avoid like the plague.  Resist the pretty pictures.  Stick with business you know and don't buy sight-unseen.  

Geeze I'm pissed off.  A few kind words of sympathy would be appreciated and if that doesn't eventuate
I'm gunna sulk.  Or pour some salving libations down my neck.  Liberal libations . . . . .

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - hic

JohntheBastard

Not that its any consolation John but I've been there. I bought a new oven by mail last year, the price was up the top end and the quality was'nt, not as bad as yours though.
Buying an El Cheapo from a camping shop has the advantage of you being able to swap things around until you find the best match. I have several made in Taiwan pots I've been given and in all honesty the lid fit etc isn't all that bad.
I'll sympathise with you tonite and have snort or two....

pd

John

From what I have Heard Macca are getting their ovens made in India as well.  Onky US made ovens are Lodge.

Seems a bit like the Furphy by the sounds of it.  Saw a new Chinese Furphy in a shop yesterday with a price tage of $189.00.  What a rip off.


Derek

JtB
Consider yourself suitably comforted with an electronic airways cuddle of sympathy and PD is correct about the elcheapos in the camp shops I thought that I was the only sneaky bugger getting around but I seem to among experts I also spent some time in one of our local camp supply stores swaping and changing lids until I got a terriffic fit on a 15" oven for $47.00 And used it last night doing bread for our New Years do yep started to get thing working in new BBQ area and pics of camp oven pit made from 200lt drum and beer keg spit etc will follow in the near future

Cheers Furphy

JTB,

How about posting a pic of your dodgy Macca CO? I'd be interested in seeing it.

My 17" elcheapo had a lid a bit like the one that you described, but I took to it with a file before I seasoned it. Now it fits like a treat and cooks up well. :)