"J. Clarke" wrote

Most of the cuts I've done in the past month have used a sled of some
kind--for that the guard provided with my saw is not workable--while in
some cases the sled will slide under it various pieces raise the guard so
high that it might as well not be there.

No problem. Put a guard on the sled. With tools and bits and pieces
around, it takes about 30 seconds.

Have a tall fence on the sled, front and back, with a piece of plexi drilled
and screwed onto the sled fence, front and back. The plexi is only wide
enoug to cover past where you would never put your fingers, anyway, so it
does not impeed use, at al.

Have some blocks around of different height, for different thickness
workpieces.

Too wide for your sled to have a block on each side? Put both blocks on one
side, and let the plexi cantilever over the cutting area.

My point is, if you _ _have_ _ to have a guard on your saw, you _will_ be
creative and think of a way to get the job done, as you want to do it, and
still be safe.
--
Jim in NC