So far I have exclusively used iron 2 banger molds from Lyman and RCBS. I have put the mold on top of the pot while it is heating and run several casts of rejects to get the mold up to heat. Maybe not the quickest way to get good boolits, but it worked and I got practice casting. I just ordered a 2 banger Lee 30 caliber soup can mold and I am in the group buy for an 8 banger H&G 50 wadcutter mold, so I will be learning to use aluminum shortly. Is it a lot harder to heat up aluminum molds? Anything significantly different than using iron molds?
I am guessing that with the 8 banger in particular I will pretty much have to use a hot plate. So you just turn the plate on and put the mold in contact with the heating element? Anything special I should be doing? Is it possible to damage the mold?