American-pattern files debur, shape, and sharpen workpieces in applications where material removal is the main objective. They abrade material more aggressively than Swiss-pattern files used for precision filing and finer finishes. Files for general purpose shape, smooth, and sharpen metal workpieces that don't require a file specific to aluminum. Files for aluminum have specialized cutting teeth that are optimized to abrade aluminum without clogging and produce better results than files not dedicated to aluminum filing. Files for wood use their coarse, raised teeth to cut into and shave off wood, removing material and profiling wood workpieces to the desired shape.