A device for removing a thin outer layer from the surface of a cartridge or tubular container such as a caulk cartridge for removal of ink, contaminant, adhesive, or printed or stamped label from the outside of the cartridge. The apparatus includes cartridge hopper and a cartridge handling mandrel or plunger which automatically removes a cartridge from the hopper aligning same for insertion of the cartridge axially through the throat of a spinning ring which contains at least one and preferably a plurality of inwardly extending knifes. The spinning knife distal end trims or peels off the label, adhesive, ink, imperfections, or even a thin film from an outer layer of a selected thickness effectively reconditioning the cartridge for reuse to be filled with virgin material or to be used as uncontaminated re-ground material to be sold as scrap.