The wax is burned out of the ceramic shell in a kiln (the insulated culvert), leaving a hollow area for bronze to flow.

Bronze comes in the form of ingots, which contain
95% copper, 4% silicone, and 1% manganese weigh-
ing between 17 - 22 lbs.

A pyrometer is used to check the temperature of the bronze. When the bronze reaches the desired temperature (in this
case, 2100 degrees F), it is ready to be poured.

 Lillegard and his son, John, carefully lift the crucible out of the furnace.

The crucible is then placed in shanks that hold it while pouring.

John skims impurities from the surface of the molten bronze

John and Steve lift the mold from the kiln and place it near the crucible.

The bronze is poured into the funnel.

As the bronze cools, it shrinks and pieces of the ceramic shell begin to fall off. Lillegard
uses an air hammer or hand-held hammer and chisel to remove as much as possible.
Each section is then put in a bead blaster to remove any remaining ceramic.