I think one of the most commonly asked question I get is why titanium is so great. And as they say - pictures are worth 1000 words. Because aluminum only takes a few minutes to machine, the shop always does aluminum proofs first before commiting to the hour long process of crafting the titanium prototypes. This way you can see the machine marks, where the tool will hit - everything without wasting expensive titanium barstock.
When I first saw the aluminum Evora, I got really excited. It was only something like 30 grams, but what surprised me most is that they could machine the half with the same profile and shape - even with the hub area only just half a millimeter thick. That's about 5 pieces of printer paper in thickness.
All Luftverk yoyos have areas this thin including the anticipated Octavia, so weight can be added where it makes the yoyo feel the best, and taken away in areas that conventional aluminum can't. And here is why:
This was done with just one of my hands. Just my palm and three finger tips. This is a really great visual representation why titanium is such a great material. You can make sections super thin, without comprimizing strength. And with the new release of the Octavia, this is more important than ever.
When will the Octavia be released? Gonna save up!
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When I first designed the Triple Zero in 2017, I didn't expect this yoyo to become the flagship it is today. Almost 8 years later, this yoyo has been a staple in the Luftverk lineup - one of the first "ultra minimalist" organic yoyos at the time. This design language has slowly worked its way from the first titanium model, the widely loved Plastic Triple Zero, and the aluminum variants as well. So it only makes sense to continue that tradition with a hybrid version.
When I first moved to Japan, I specifically moved to Osaka for drifting. But more so - it was the first place where I made a friend that immediately welcomed me with open arms. As someone who grew up in Canada all his life, I felt like I had bit off more than I could chew. Moving to another country is one thing - but going to a place where you don't even speak the language, where the culture is completely 180 from the western world now that was a different story.
When I released the titanium version of the Revora, I had one goal in mind. Challenge myself to design a solid state product in an era where that is no longer the normal. In a way - it was a challenge to myself to see if Luftverk's evolving design language could stack up against todays multi-material engineering marvels.
Jeffrey Pang
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