Ink characteristics

I use the word "characteristics" because everything I have searched used the terms "properties" or "performance" and doesn't give me the information I seek.



I am doing the Ahab mod from the British guy on You Tube, stephen…something. Uber-flex. He said a "thicker" ink would work best, and suggested Noodler's X-Feather. XF only comes in black and I would like some color. Which inks could be considered "thicker"? Or hold characteristics like X-Feather? Acrylic? Calligraphy? Dip pen ink? (Which inks are dip inks?)



I am SO disappointed with the Ahab. You have to press so hard to get any flex, it's ridiculous. Why even make something like that? I ended up bending the end of the nib. Goulet Pens said sorry it "was not to your liking" and offered exchange or return if I paid to ship it. The Ahab might be a good every-day writing pen, but to represent it as flex is simply wrong.



There are SO many inks out there. I have SO much to learn. Does anyone have a recommendation for a site to teach me what I need to know?



Also, what's with the super expen$ive inks? Do they have diamonds ground up in them?