Gaps in joints
Also called: gappy joint, open joint, sloppy fit, loose joint
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A gap in a joint is an opening where the mating surfaces no longer meet, leaving the connection loose or visibly open.
How a gap appears
Shrinkage across the width of a stile can open a joint, and a loose mortise, the recess in a joint, can leave its tenon without a firm fit. In a framed structure, even a small opening is a warning that the parts are no longer bearing as intended.
Why it matters
An opened connection is unsafe in important load-bearing work. Gaps can also show that a fitting is too slack, or that movement has opened the connection after assembly.
Avoid a weak glue line
A starved joint is a glue joint in which too little adhesive remains to make a sound bond. Excessive penetration into the wood or squeeze-out from the joint can have the same result, so the adhesive must wet the surfaces without disappearing from the glue line.