Abstract: A substantially nitrate-free solution for milling products of refractory metals, especially titanium, which solution comprises: (a) about 5-100 g/l of ammonium bifluoride; (b) up to about 90 g/l of hydrochloric acid; and (c) a balance of water and impurities. Preferred embodiments of this aqueous solution consist essentially of about 15-75 g/l of NH.sub.4 HF.sub.2 and about 8-70 g/l of HCl. An alternative embodiment includes up to about 170 g/l of H.sub.2 O.sub.2. There is further disclosed a method for chemically milling, etching and/or pickling metal products, such as titanium alloy forgings, with the aforementioned solutions.