Beekeepers here in the State of Arkansas are fortunate in that AFB infections are very low. I have seen infections in hives owned by my friends only twice in over 40 years, and never in my hives. Four or five years ago at the State Beekeepers Association meeting the State Apiarist said that only eleven cases had been found in over 6000 hives checked.
Cleaning of boxes is easily done, and a pressure washer removes as many spores as does scorching. Trying to render old brood comb is a waste of time, as is refurbishing old frames.
In our climate hive bodies are easily protected with a copper naphthenate dip and they can then be painted if desired.
As Oldbeavo said, many things beekeepers do are not cost effective, and the effort would be better spent in the bees.
