Rubber Washer VPI Scout

For flat records (most) I have filled in the platter indent with a piece of circular cut cardboard - cereal box - pick your favourite - Cocoa Puffs.
It is the exact thickness in talking with Mike years ago. I then use the VPI clamp without rubber washer or another favourite weight. I like the HRS one.

If its a record I like and it is dish warped or not flat then I remove the material, put on the appropriate size rubber washer with the VPI clamp. No its not level especially toward the inner grooves but best for the situation. If I really like that record - I buy another one and hope for a flat one. Good luck.

Level the entire table with the bullet level on the platter, about where the needle would drop. Do not try to level the platter alone.

I tried it without the washer and I did not like the sound. I place the level where the stylus meets the groove. I wonder if other turntables have the same issue.

As far as the rubber washer around the spindle. When I had my VPI I only used it on records that were 120 gram warped records. I found that 180gram warped records could crack around the spindle area if used and made too tight. It puts a slight concave so the warps are gone and the record is tight to the outside rim of the platter and yes the record will be slightly out or level. I never had an issue tracking a record when the washer was used.
I also think the concept was that instead of a vacume system this was the next best thing to remove warps and only to be used if the record was warped.

Markd51 pretty well nailed it above. The VPI washer/clamp system sounds very similar to the one on my Gyrodec and the key is to get an even distribution around the perimeter of the clamp as you install it and NOT to over clamp! You actually require very little rotation of the clamp to eliminate most warps and effectively couple the record to the platter.

With 180 and 200 gram records, take the washer off and don't use it but still use the clamp and do NOT overtighten.

I know the Michell clamp comes with no instructions (as a result many people upgrade-unnecessarily IMO-to the much more expensive Orbe clamp and threaded spindle) and it sounds like the VPI one doesn't either. Would be good if both Michell and VPI would include some written instruction on this as it's important.