Trick for replacing one rail in an existing split rail fence?

[slowtwitch73]

Trying to help out an elderly neighbor with some fence repair. Is there a trick to sticking a new rail in.. bottom rail of a two rail fence? Posts etc are likely not in great shape, so torquing on the posts is probably not a good idea.

I was just going to cut a rail in half and scew n glue it back together after placing it.

Want to make sure there's not a slick trick to it....

 

[drx2]

Just replaced 3 rails on mine. The rails had tapered ends that fit in through and through slots on the post. Slid one end in all the way, lined up the other end with the slot and slid the rail so that both ends were supported. One rail had a tapered end that was a little thick and long. Used a recip saw to thin and shorten it. Fit in great

 

[no704]

Need a rail stretcher.

 

[Zeke]

When cutting, do a long scarf joint, like 30º from vertical. No matter how goofy your cut is the wood will marry back very well. So a Sawzall is perfect. Some screws from the bottom and you should be good. This is a situation where polyurethane glue (Gorilla) works well. Epoxy is better.

 

[58Yeoman]

I was going to replace a couple rails this summer, but ended up doing some posts as well. One side of my fence faces the woods, so I wouldn't have to worry about looks from the other side. I was going to cut out part of the hole on the backside and just slip the rail in place, then screw it to the posts. I still screwed the rails into the posts to make them more secure and to make sure no one would lean on one and cause it to come out and have them fall.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Got it all done. The extra rails I had were of course too short, so I poached some off a different part of our fence that will be coming down this fall. There was enough room to work with in the pocket to just slide it in and scooch it over. The top rail was cracked so I screwed n glued that one.

Probably a bear.. there is a section of brand new fence in sight of this section that has mud all over it from bears coming out of the nearby water hole.