Introduction
What are your options to fix a broken slat in your picket fence?
Opt 1 – Go to the hardware store or home improvement center to buy a replacement slat.
Opt 2 – Hire a handyman and have him repair it.
Opt 3 – Duck tape.
Opt 4 – Glue it.

The Story
A few years ago the kids were playing in the corner of the fenced in area. Somehow one of the slats broke. It was a low priority item. I went to a home improvement center but I didn’t know the width of the slat. But realized a replacement slat would stand out compared to the seasoned slats that would be all around it. So there the slat stayed, broken.

A couple of months ago, I was moving branches out of the play area after a big storm, when I broke the top of a slat off. Now, I could not have a missing top; guess what jumped to the top of the priority list. I only had a small block of time to repair the slat I broke. What should I do? If you guessed Glue it, then you think like I do.

This instructable is the repair of the slat the kids broke. Because I had a short time to fix the slat I broke, I was unable to take pictures of that repair. There are pictures of the repaired slat I broke at the end of this instructable.

Requirements:
1) Inexpensive,
2) Quick fix,
3) Durable and
4) Look nice.

Step 1: Materials

1) Wood Glue,
2) 2 C Clamps.

Skill Level:
Easy

Time to Complete:
5 – 10 minutes to assemble and clean up.
30 minutes – 24 hours drying time.

Cost:
Less than 50 cents worth of glue.

Step 2: Glue

Add Wood Glue to both sides of the break

Step 3: Clamp

Clamp the pieces together and wipe off extra Glue.

Let Dry – Wait 24 hrs for best results.

Step 4: Finished

After 24 hrs of drying – Remove Clamps.

Step 5: Observations & Summary

Observations
1) You cannot easily tell the slat had been broken.
2) Minimal tools and supplies.
3) By not going to the “store” for replacement slats I saved

a. Money – the cost of the slats, gas, wear and tear on the car.

b. Time – traveling to, from and at the “store”; gathering, using and replacing the tools.

c. Energy – removing, measuring, cutting and nailing the replacement slats.

d. Waste – I do not have to dispose of or store the broken slats.

4) Over all good ROI.

Summary
This is the second slat I have repaired with this technique. The first slat is still going strong. You cannot easily tell that a slat had been repaired. I am satisfied with the results of both repairs.

Hear advice, and receive instruction, so that you may be wise in your latter end.