One thing that has become near indispensable for me is an electric hotplate. I pre-heat my molds at the same time I am heating the RCBS lead pot full of bullet metal. When the bullet metal is ready to use so is the mold. I can set it for the temperature that works best and shazam! I am ready to go...
The second item I have at my casting bench is a manicurists fan. It is positioned to my left and above and is aimed down towards where I sit the mold while the sprue sets. When everything is running well, it only takes two seconds for the sprue to set (due to the gentle breeze from the little $7.00 fan) and further, the fan maintains mold temperature by never letting it get too hot. Another benefit is the breeze cools my pile of bullets and they are ready to move as soon as I run out the pot. 20 lbs. of match grade bullets in an hour to an hour and a half...
FWIW
Dale53
The second item I have at my casting bench is a manicurists fan. It is positioned to my left and above and is aimed down towards where I sit the mold while the sprue sets. When everything is running well, it only takes two seconds for the sprue to set (due to the gentle breeze from the little $7.00 fan) and further, the fan maintains mold temperature by never letting it get too hot. Another benefit is the breeze cools my pile of bullets and they are ready to move as soon as I run out the pot. 20 lbs. of match grade bullets in an hour to an hour and a half...
FWIW
Dale53