Live edge wood is porous—it drinks liquid like a sponge. If you pour 5 gallons of epoxy onto raw wood, you might lose 10-15% of it as it soaks into the grain.

Pro Tip: Always brush on a thin "Seal Coat" of epoxy first and let it cure. This seals the wood and prevents air bubbles from rising into your main pour.

The calculator gives you the exact mathematical volume of the mold, but it doesn't account for reality. You will never get every drop out of your mixing bucket, and some will stick to your stirring stick.

Recommendation: Always mix 10% more than the calculator says. It is much cheaper to waste a little epoxy than to ruin a table by running out halfway through.

Make sure you buy the right resin.
• Tabletop Epoxy: For thin coats (1/8" or less). Pours too deep will overheat and crack.
• Deep Pour Epoxy: For river tables (1" to 4" deep). It cures slowly to prevent overheating.