//
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VOLTA TECHNOLOGY  

> FlamaVolta allows to replace fiberglass by veneer and organic cloths.

> FlamaVolta is not a closed process. It is a compendium of natural and sustainable materials that can be combined in many ways, to build more sustainable and healthier surfboards, with comparable, if not better performance levels than traditional boards.

> It follows the same steps than a traditional construction: the blank can be handshaped or CNC cut and then go straight to the laminating process.

> The thickness of the timber lamination is pretty similar to a fiberglassed board, where different layers and cloth thicknesses can be combined to add strength or different flex patterns.

> They can be made as stiff and solid as a PU surfboard, or as flexible and lively as en Epoxi construction.> Any kind of foam core can be used, with or without stringer.

> FlamaVolta boards are only coated with wood floor varnish. This means you can give a new coat of varnish to finish repairs or to rejuvenate the whole board as often as you like.

//
WHY A NEW TECHNOLOGY? 

Flama was born with a basic goal in mind: building 100% organic surfboards. After almost reaching this goal in 2011 with the hollow FlamaClassic construction (98% organic) we commited to a much more ambitious goal: finding a real alternative for building sustainable boards that could be easily adopted by traditional surfboard artisans.

The main reason why we keep on building surfboards the same way since 1950 –PU, fiberglass and resin– is that it is so simple and effective that it seems unbeatable.

FlamaVolta is an open source for pushing the limits of sustainable surfboard construction, specially addressed to surfboard artisans. A process that emulates the same steps involved in traditional surfboard construction, while opening the door to refusing all the toxic materials we’ve been working with for too long.

FlamaVolta is not a closed process, but a call to experimentation and discovery. It is a compendium of natural and sustainable materials that can be combined in many ways, to build more sustainable and healthier surfboards, with comparable, if not better performance levels than traditional boards.

FlamaVolta is a project to be shared and to bring sustainablity-oriented innovation to surfboard culture.

//
BUILDING PROCESS   

SHAPING

1-     The blank is handshaped or CNC cut.

2-     Nose, tail and fin wood blocks are installed.

LAMINATION

3-     Bottom: flax or hemp cloth and 1 layer of veneer are vacuum bagged, wraping around the rail with the classic Free Lap process.

4-     Sand lap line flush or push down into foam. Then fine sand timber cuts in the rail.

5-     Deck lamination, same than bottom.

***     Additionally, more veneer or cloth reinforcements can be added between layers.

6-     Finboxes and leash plug are installed.

8-     The board is decorated with tints, then varnished and ready to go.

//

TECHNOLOGY AND MATERIALS

Vacuum bagging lamination

An easy, cheap and user-friendly tech that allows a perfect and strong lamination. From boats hulls to household appliances to space shuttles, vacuum bagging is how composite materials are done today.

Veneer wrap –the Volta–

Amazingly, paulownia veneer (and also other timbers) can wrap around the rails easily with very little practice.

Organic cloth

Flax and hemp cloth are superstrong fibers with even superior tensile strength than fiberglass. When combined with veneer they become a bulletproof lamination.

Biobased epoxi and PU glue

Both Epoxi or PUglue can be used in the process. The advantage of PUglue is that is more flexible than Epoxi and is very easy to work with, with no issues with temperature or humidity.

Shaping

In opposition to other wooden technologies where you need to consider the thickness of the skins, the board can be handshaped as if it was to be fiberglassed.

Paulownia wood blocks

Nose and tail blocks add protection and help prevent leaks through the cloth lamination in these delicate places, as paulownia is water resistant. Fin wood blocks make for a super strong finbox bond and can be used with any fin system.

Decoration meets performance

Playing with different timbers not only gives a beautiful look, but it can be used to reinforce specific areas.

Wood floor varnish as a finish