The "fringe" is stiff, I actualy wrapped it with coban so it would dry laying flat.
The tipper is to fat, it's kind of hard for me to carve round objects by hand. I now have a lathe so future tippers will be machine carved and work/look much better.

Straight razor was what I used to shave the drum with.

Edit - The fringe does not effect the sound that I can notice. I do the same with Djembe's and it does not change the sound.