I have been reading this post with great interest, because I too was plagued by static. The issue became apparent when I upgraded my Nottingham Ace Space to the heavy platter configuration which is a heavier and thicker platter which sits on top of the original platter. In the heavy configuration, the thin foam mat which sat atop the original platter is discarded and the vinyl is placed directly on the platter. Nottingham makes a big deal about no other interface between platter and vinyl using the heavy set up. Shortly after this I upgraded my cartridge from a Kisecki Purple Heart to a Van den Hul Crimson -well worth it. At this point I started noticing notable "static cling" to the platter when removing an lp. I was certain that there was some friction between the two platter infaces as the source of the static cling. A unusual property of the Nottingham tables is that there is no on/off switch. The motor is constantly running, but is low torque so the platter doesn't move until it is started and stopped by hand. I had used a Furutech de stat II for years prior and even it wouldn't completely eliminate the static after play. FWIW, I ultrasonically clean all records and house them in MoFi sleeves. I use the audioquest brush before and after each play. I proved to myself that it wasn't an inter platter friction issue by starting, running the turntable without the stylus engaged, and stopping the turntable several times over a 40 minute period before removing the record. My highly advanced "arm hair detector" was used to measure the static. There was none. I only had significant static develop after play, and generally only after the second side of an lp. Prior to flipping the record, the de stat and carbon brush was used on the most recently played side, then repeated on the flip side right before needle drop. So mijostyn, you may want to try playing both sides and then checking for static. I contacted Nottingham and they asked me to place a ground wire between the lower bearing and a wall ground. Made no difference. At this point I was quite frustrated because the static when removing the lp was quite audible. I wondered If all the time spent cleaning the vinyl was worthless. I purchased an achromat and placed it on the heavy platter, adjusted VTA and the problem is 95% gone. Only slight hair waver on occasion. Not sure if this helps at all, but it was my experience.
