pper/brass

Does anyone have any suggestions as to cleaning new copper or brass before using it for brewing thanks

Where are you going to be using it?  If it's a wort chiller then just boil it for ten minutes and it'll be as steril as your wort.
If it's going to be in the chilled wort then you could just wash with soap and water or soak it in oxyclean to get the dirt off then sanitize it.

Don't make it to hard. 

IMHO

http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixB.html

Be careful of what you use, Some detergents will take the head right off your beer...

Cheers
Preston