Sounds like you are over tightening. You want to hold the record firmly to the platter but you don't want to cold weld it to the platter either! The center of the VPI platter has a slight recess to permit a small amount of deformation, but the rubber washer is intended to prevent you from bottoming out the record onto the platter in the recessed area. The fact that the washer is sticking to the record and coming off with it indicates to me you are using way too much pressure. Also, never leave the record on the platter clamped for an extended period of time, i.e., when finished playing loosen the clamp (if you are not going to remove the LP from the platter). When I was using the VPI record clamp (I use the weight and ring clamp now) I never had the washer stick, though I did dish a record or two from leaving a record clamped over night. For records that are dished already you could try clamping them the opposite way which caused the dishing, but there is no guarantee you'll be able to remove the dishing.
New/Record Warping Help
This may seem like a very dumb ? but I am new to analog so here goes. I have noticed that after about 10-15 plays or so a new record does not lie flat against the platter (VPI SCOUT) as it did when it was brand new. The onlt thing I can think of it is I am using a record clamp, could I be applying to much pressure and causing the record to warp? I also notice the rubber piece that is attached to the spindle often comes off with the record (esp on 180-200 vinyl)
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