I have a large walnut crotch slab which cries out to be a bench after George Nakashima. I have the slab mostly ready (flattened and "butterflyed") for legs. Before I set it thing up and play with rake and splay angles visually (for the legs) I wanted to get some feedback. I intend to join the legs like a windsor chair. There will be no stretchers. Obviously, a dead vertical leg with provide the most strength, but won't look very good. A large rake and splay will be weaker. Visually, I'm not sure what will look good yet. I intended to turn the legs a bit more bulbous than a windsor - really I want to exgagerate their roundness - perhaps giving a feeling of strength (hopefully they won't be clown feet).
What I'm wondering is what rake and splay have others played with varying degrees of success. The slab is 6' by 17" and 2" thick. The way the slab sits on the legs may be the most important design element. So, I'm going slow. Actually, I don't even know the rake and splay of a windsor, or if there is a common angle. Anyone have some input? Anything would be most welcome.