MLF, Oak, Chardonnay, evOak staves Questions

Good Evening-

I've been speaking to a few people here privately around oaking different wines and upon their advice have purchased some Stavin cubes, medium and medium + toasts.

My first foray into Oak was with a 3 stave test kit from evOak the test procedure outlined, letting the stave sit for 3 days in a bottle of unoaked chardonnay, removed the stave, tasted, and discovered I'm not much a fan of wet 2x4. Three days later (50% of the wine gone) the super strong 2x4 taste-smell had faded, leaving something very over-oaked yet palatable. I've got 12 more test vials to work from (chips) so we'll see what the next test will do.

That said, I have 15 gallons of chardonnay that's been racked off and has been sitting at 66F for 3 months, and another 15 gallons of chardonnay that is still fermenting (should rack this next week). I'm told the only way to get the buttery taste I'm looking for is to perform a MLF- my alcohol on the sitting wine is near 14% and I expect the fermenting wine to get at least to that point.

So, having read several posts on the subject and not been yet satisfied, what would be the easiest way of performing a MLF and oaking at the same time?

Should I... 1) Let the 15 gallons that's been sitting for 3 months go- It's an OK wine right now, skip the MLF and the Oak since it's been too long 2) Oak the 15 gallons of sitting Chard and Oak the 15 gallons of fermenting ASAP, then innoculate the 15 gallons of fermenting Chard as soon as it's racked to a secondary 3) Innoculate both and Oak both?

4) Some variation thereof?

I'll be ordering some SO2 breastrets from 13$ shipped- to ensure that if I do perform a MLF I'll be able to do so without fear of killing my new friends.

Suggestions are most welcome- I originally bought the Chardonnay to experiment with Champagne and blending some Pinot Grigio but I may have lost sight of the original plan.

Finally, are there *any* cheaper Chromatography kits then what I've seen advertised as 80$? I can't believe the prices for 3 acids, some paper, and a polar-nonpolar solvent. Geez there wasn't a day at work when I used to go thru at least 15 glbutt plates!

Thanks in advance-

Jason