male/female compression fittings

What’s the best way to clean a copper pipe that I want to cut and add a compression fitting to The pipe is old with just a bit of emulsion paint on it It's my cold water so I want it nice and clean, would wire wool do it?

Hi Can anyone help me? The above numbered motorised valve in my heating system has stuck. It is the old style valve where the head unit cannot be changed (without obtaining some extra plate?). It probably dates from around 1983, so I was quite happy to buy a complete replacement valve. I...