Hello Jim & All,
Again I do not want to somehow indicate heating comb might not be a better 
method but for me acetic acid makes better sense.

> I have also heard you could heat treat the old combs at 120F for 3-4 hours 
> and kill off 90-98% of the spores, how does this compare with acetic acid?

Heating comb for control of spores:
Some beeks say 3-4 hours is enough but I believe researchers say 24 hours. I 
think Jim Fischer explained that the comb takes awhile to reach the required 
temp which makes sense. My only experience with heating comb has been in the 
honey house hot room. My honey house has spray foam insulation and little 
heat escapes. Heat comes from a 100,000 BTU furnace. I can maintain the 
temp. at 100F. and could go higher with a different thermostat. At today's 
propane prices I would need to treat a bunch to justify using the room in 
other than hot weather.  New comb might sag at 120F. but old dark comb would 
be ok. However if temps climber to 130F. for some unknown reason (such as 
thermostat problems) then I might end up with a mess.

acetic acid:
If you are bringing in say  a dozen boxes which need treatment then you 
simply stack and apply acid on top. ( two stacks). A few minutes and done.

Outside and you do not have to worry about wax moths. Brood comb sitting 
waiting for the hot room treatment needs protecting. When the acid is gone 
you simple move in and protect ( or in my case put on pallets on the 
container)as you normally would.

discussion:
The hot room treatment at certain times of the year might work for me but 
once extracting starts (late June) and can run until November using the hot 
room is almost impossible. Each beekeepers situation is different but using 
heat for the small beekeeper might be problematic. Most wives are not 
willing to let their hubbies use the cooking stove and wax is so flammable.
I wonder if Phostoxin gas would kill nosema spores. Does the list know? A 
somewhat dangerous practice but legal and approved for bee hive comb. Most 
very large beekeepers use the gas.

bob 

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