Full disclosure, I already have a mandolin slicer which I use frequently however it's large and difficult to clean. My new NC mandolin slicer is sleek and sharp as heck so use the guard! It does a great job slicing veggies as I found out when I cooked a veggie stir fry last night. The chute can fit all but the largest squash/zuchinni. It's also really easy to clean but you do need to read the directions. Plus, it's stainless steel construction makes it more durable than it's plastic counterparts. A great bargain!