A few years ago, I learned a little trick to make some materials behave properly. Just rub your finger tips across your dubbing wax, rub the fingers together to spread the wax around a bit, then lovingly stroke the material with the waxy fingers. Pheasant tails barbs will react well to this.

Goose or swan tips may or may not be suitable for this item, but it may depend on what you are trying to accomplish. If you are trying to get rid of the frayed tips, it won't apply. And if you use too much wax, it may mat down the feather barbules and the slips won't marry.

Just have to experiment some, which is part of the fun of fly tying.

Jim JOhnson
Doublehauler
Bigfork, Montana