Good tool to create an inset into an already beveled surface?

Question

For the exercise I am creating a barn setting. I'm making a gate and beveled the side to give it plank shapes but I also want to create a square section which will be extruded inwards to become a handle/lock. What would be the good tool for this? I'm thinking maybe the knife tool but but I'm wondering if there is another tool I can use to get the dimensions correct.

Thanks for your help.

Model (red box is what I want):

Reference:

Answer 1 · 2021-04-04T13:12:01Z

a

replied April 4, 2021 1:12pm

you could use the Boolean modifier where you create the shape you want with a different object then use the Boolean modifier on the original object and select the new object as a target

Answer 2 · 2021-04-05T00:37:09Z

Jonathan Lampel replied April 5, 2021 12:37am

Since it's just a rectangular shape on a fairly flat surface, I think the knife tool would be your best bet, but you could go the Boolean route as abm mentioned if you're really uncertain about the proportions and want to make lots of crazy changes later on.

Answer 3 · 2021-04-05T10:13:50Z

f

replied April 5, 2021 10:13am

Thanks Jonathan and Abm for the replies. In the end I tried both and ended up using the knife tool because it felt easier getting the geometry right for the border around the hole.

Here's the result: