I am refinishing a table made in the Philippines in 1946. The top is two pieces of lauan, 40x20; screwed to two pieces running perpendicularly. It is then just set in bamboo base. The lauan pieces are connected by dowels, and are about 1/8" apart. The owner says the gap has been there as long as he can remember, and since the screw holes don't seem distorted, it has probably always been there. I could joint it and glue them together. Good or bad idea?
Also, when I sanded the top down I cut ever so slightly into one of the dowel holes. I could chisel a piece off the bottom and glue it in and then (carefully) sand it flush. Does that seem reasonable?