My dad is an avid wood worker and uses chisels and planes all the time. He used to use traditional whetstones to sharpen up his chisels and the like but recently switched over to some machine to sharpen them now. He had no need for his old whetstones so gave them to me to sharpen my razors with! Pretty sweet gift I know

Anyways, the stones he gave me are a Samurai? 800/4000 combo (i think that's what it is at least) and a norton 8K. The stones are in good shape but he said he's never lapped them so I know I need to get a lapping plate to clean them up and then eventually a finisher so here's my questions:

Would the consensus be that the DMT 8" 325 would be my best bet for a lapping plate? Are there any others out there you all would recommend?

And as for finishers, would you guys say natural or synthetic? I'm leaning towards a thuringian or the Naniwa 12k or maybe even a coticule haha so many options! Your thoughts? Also going to get some CrOx paste for my strop and the one question I have is do you put it on the back or the leather or back of the fabric?

I know thats a lot of questions and most have probably been asked before but I really appreciate any feedback I can get from you guys cuz you're all the best!

Sam