Gentlemen:
On the market these days are those very cheap cotton-mesh gloves that come in bundles for such (minimal) bucks that the cost amounts to only 10 cents/pair or so.
I cannot cast with heavy leather gloves on but these cotton items are so light I do not loose very much sensitivity at all and the protection is far better than the thinness of the glove would seem to indicate.
For example when I heat treat bullets I first drop the bullets on my cushion for a quick inspection. Then (seconds only) I pick up the hot bullets in my hands and drop them carefully in the quench-pail that sits off to one side of the casting bench. I feel no heat by doing this transfer and the gloves provide good protection from general exposure to heat around the casting furnace.
~ Just don't get them wet!
Good morning,
Forrest