Sorry to go against the stream....but...
Some 18 months ago, I made one using a trowel as the handle and an 1¼" Oak as base and legs.
Without even trying it, I posted it in a UK forum and got very negative replies about working without blade guard and passing my hand over the blade...
So, I posted it on a USA forum and got the same reply from the forum Admin ("no way that I'll pass my hand over the blade")....
At that moment, I went down to the garage to test it......I was lucky to wear my brown pants that day......project deleted and the pictures removed from the posts....
I don't have any problems to cut small (very small) pieces or 1/16" narrow strips. I use a "narrow strips sled" and my push stick is far from the blade (till today, it didn't touch the blade with any push stick).
By the way, I use the "narrow strips sled" not only for "narrow strips" but also for "wide strips"....
On the pics, you can see it "in action".
I hope that the "High blade" will not scare you. As for me, I love high blade but I don't care because in any case I don't see it....
niki