antiskate disc

Here’s what I do, and I don’t claim it’s the only way to end up with an effective amount of AS. (There is NO exact correct setting.) Play a stereo LP with music and set AS to zero. The result should be some audible distortion in the R channel. Now add AS in very tiny increments starting way below the recommended amount, if there even is such a value. As you add AS, listen to the same passage. When the distortion in the R channel is ameliorated, stop.

@cleeds,,, i use recommended tracking force. The vinyl

of the test LP is clearly scratched or etched by the stylus  

The skating force exists because of friction between the stylus contact patches and the groove walls.  Blank LPs don't have grooves, obviously.  So a blank LP is not a really good model for creating a skating force and then correcting it with AS. I know that some gurus do use a blank LP. I strongly disagree with that method for the reason given. Your observation that the stylus scratches the blank vinyl is neither here nor there.

You might find this helpful!

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=using+a+mono+record+to+adjust+antiskating&mid=6D30433C29808400F07F6D30433C29808400F07F&FORM=VIRE

@jw944ts 

l can’t answer the debate on blank test records, but what you observe with scratching the surface when using one is quite normal.

Even if you are tracking at 1 - 2 grams will leave traces from the stylus on the virgin flat vinyl. Don’t listen to any nonsense about your tracking weight being wrong. @cleeds “That sounds unlikely” “What the heck are you using for VTF?” is misinforming you. A stylus never tracks the absolute bottom of the groove. It rides on the modulations on each side of the groove. The tracking force is spread over a wider area of the stylus profile, and not to the tip of the stylus when playing a record.

The reason you have noticed (and quite correctly) the scarring on the test record is because the full tracking force is applied to the tip of the stylus. No force is imparted to the sides of a groove as there is non present. Anyone who has ever had a test record with a test band for bias (anti-skate) adjustment can tell you marks are left after playing.

l would suggest using the test band to get a rough average setting. Then use the advice given by @lewm to fine tune your arm and cartridge. Different stylus profiles can change the results you will get with your test record, so use your ears for the minute tweaks.