The secret is in the curved milled teeth; though aggressive, they take a shearing cut that minimizes tear-out. The 8" flat and half-round files excel at general shaping, especially across the grain or on end grain.
The flat file is also safe-edged, making it useful for dressing tenons without damaging the shoulder or as a substitute for a planemaker's float.
A screw-on hardwood handle is available separately.