I’m a newbie with SketchUp (SU) and am stuck on a procedure; I wonder if you might be able to help me.

Let’s say I’m making a simple mortise and tenon joint. I’ll be using a 1″x6″x3′ stretcher with a tenon on the end, maybe 3/4″ wide by 5″ tall.

I want that tenon to go into a mortise on a leg, 4″x4″x 36″….so that it is centered on the leg, and the stretcher’s top is flush with the top of the leg – a usual scenario.

I understand how to create the stretcher and tenon, as well as the leg, and can position the tenon and stretcher just where I want it – at the top of the leg – and have the tenon inside the leg.

So far, so good!

What I would like SU to do for me is to create the mortise for me, so that if I should “explode” the drawing, I would see a cut-out mortise in the leg. This would also be great for dovetails, lap joints, and so on.

I would really appreciate any help you could offer!