I don't like to cast bullets if the temperature is under 60 degrees, too difficult to keep the molds up to temp. However, sometimes I have to and in Wisconsin the temp is often under 60 degrees. I have never used a hotplate to warm a bullet mold, but I am thinking that a hotplate might help to keep the mold up to temp.( I use two double cavity molds so one is cooling while I am handling the other one). 
I have a hotplate with a heating coil that looks like one from an electric stove, not sure if I should put the mold directly on that heating element. The hotplate does have a heat control. My idea is to put some sort of steel plate over the heating element, heat the hotplate to about 350 or 400 degrees and put the mold on it to warm it up and rest it on the hotplate while I am pouring or dropping bullets with the other mold. 
does that sound like a good plan?, and what would be the ideal temperature to shoot for on the hot plate?
Thanks!
Joe

Joe,

Here's an example of the laboratory type hot plate that I use to keep my moulds hot.  It's small (3.5" dia top, 3.5" tall), adjustable temp up to around 600 degrees and very convenient.  There are several listed on eBay, which is where I picked mine up a few years ago.

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Wayne

I have an infrared thermometer which I can try to use to determine the temperature of the mold as it is being warmed up. Not sure how accurate it is, but what temperature should I shoot for?
Thanks!
Joe

I don't know how hot my hotplate makes my molds, but I set it on 4 out of 5 and place the mold directly on the hotplate.  In maybe 10 minutes it is nice and hot.

Chris.

Measured with a digital thermometer and thermocouple  placed on the hot plate the temp was 530 degrees F.  Measured with a hand-held infrared unit the temp. read 400 degrees F.  I've generally found that an infrared temp gauge does not work well on unpainted smooth metal surfaces unless they're rough or painted with a non-reflective coating.

What I need to do is attach a thermocouple to the mould & monitor the temp while casting.  Then set the hot plate to the same temp.  I'm betting it's higher than 530 degrees, which is the highest the hot plate will go.  Even after preheating the mould I still have to cast a few bullets before they drop out at a constant weight.


Wayne

I used to heat the molds on the casting furnace, which worked okay, but still required a number of wrinkled cast-offs until the mold got really hot enough.  Somewhere in a thread here, the writer mentioned using a hot plate to get his molds hot.  I went on Amazon and picked up a $16.00 hot plate. Has a temp control. Now I pre-heat the molds, sprew plate down, and when I start casting the first ones are keepers.  The key I found was getting the sprew plate hot so the lead would puddle liquid for a few seconds.  Reduced the discards to just a few. I weigh each bullet and toss if they are more than +/- a grain.  Best $16.00 bucks I spent in a long time!
Mike.

I also use a hot plate to pre-heat my molds. I use a 1/8 piece of steel on top of the coil then the mold. I rotate from the mold, top first then bottom while the lead is warming up. Seems to speed things up for me. 
Wade

I just set the mold out over the pot as the lead melts then dip the end of the mold in the lead for about 30 seconds to do is it off.