Using a component as a rubber stamp

Question

I need to do something similar to what JTables, JLists, JComboBoxes, and JTrees do to render their individual elements. From what I understand, to save memory, they have one component which they then set whatever value on, use the component to draw, set a new value, draw the component in a new position, instead of using many individual components, saving a lot of time and memory.
actual question
I need to do this with a component. I want the appearance of a JComboBox, but without any of the annoying functionality.
Right now, my paintComponent method looks like this:
  //public because the the code I'm overriding upgraded it from
  //public to protected
  public void paintComponent(Graphics g)
    //The following two lines are there to see if
    //the component actually draws. It does.
    g.setColor(java.awt.Color.RED);
    g.drawLine(0, 0, getWidth(), getHeight());
    if (!isDesignTime())
      //Draw in run time
      super.paintComponent(g);
    else
      //Draw in design time
      //This is how I am attempting to use the component as
      //a rubber stamp.
      cmbSpeakerList.setBounds(getBounds());
      cmbSpeakerList.paint(g);
  }cmbSpeakerList is a JComboBox. When in design time, it is not contained in the JPanel. I use removeAll to take it out, then in paintComponent, set its bounds to be the same as the panel's, then call paint, passing it the same Graphics object I was given. Does this make any sense?
So, my question is, how can I make the JComboBox (and really, any JComponent, although I don't imagine I'll need this functionality too often) draw itself, but only draw itself, and not do anything else.

Answer 1

I'm not using a JTree. I mentioned the JTree as an example of a component that does the same thing I want to do. Basically, all I want is the appearance of a JComboBox, but without the functionality. So, I create the component, but don't add it. Then I call paint on it with the Graphics object swing gives me. All it does is draw its background color and then exit, though. That's the problem.