Using the VPI threaded clamp and azimuth change

Andy, The material of the washer is not critical. You can obtain the correct height by purchasing brass shim stock at a hobby store.

The packs come with a variety of thickness and can be cut with stainless steel scissors. For the hole in the center, sandwich the shim stock between 2 pieces of wood (this minimizes the likelihood of a ragged hole)and drill the spindle hole.

The tighter you clamp the record to the platter, the better (energy from the stylus is transferred from the vinyl to the platter rather than reverberating back to the stylus).

Stevecham
When used correctly, the playing surface of the record is flat to the platter and not dished.

Ditto. I've never had an issue with using the clamp with the rubber washer. The washer will compress plus the label area of the platter is recessed so I'm not sure why your records would be dished. The clamping works perfectly with flat records, and helps with warped records significantly. Add the VPI periphery ring and only badly warped records across the surface will be noticeable.

Clamping can be a little tricky, where there will be slight variances in clamp down pressure with any given record. It takes a bit more time to critically, and correctly clamp, but is probably worth it, just for the fact of better coupling the record to Platter Surface.

You maybe might want to try something like the Herbies Grungebuster VPI Spindle Washer.

Right off the bat, the Rubber Washer is a bit harder in Shore Hardness, and more resistant to compression IMO than the Herbies Spindle Washer. The Grungebuster material seems a little more "spongy", and giving. Rubber can also have a tendency to get harder over time.

With the Herbies Washer, you might be able to achieve a better, and flatter coupling of the record. Mark

It doesn't change the azimuth at all. I actually set my azimuth with the threaded clamp, washer and an angle protractor.

M~

Using an angle protractor only assumes that the diamond is "perfectly" aligned on the cantilever.

Setting the head shell parallel to the record surface is a starting point, not necessarily the end result. Trust your ears.