A system and process for chemical milling or stripping a surface portion and/or surface deposit from metal products, such as chemically milling a metal to remove surface defects and/or stripping non-metallic deposits from a metal surface. The metal product is associated with an electrolyte, such as by being immersed in a tank filled with the electrolyte, such as a diluted acid mixture. A counter electrode having a higher potential than the metal of the metal product is also associated with the electrolyte. The counter electrode is dc coupled to the metal product, or to a conductive component in direct contact with the metal product, such that electric current flows from the metal to the counter electrode due to the difference in the natural potentials of the metal and the counter electrode. The surface portion or deposit is thereby stripped or milled from the metal product.