You can lay the back of a chisel flat and get the same effect (vs. using the bevel). There is less risk that way. Any $5 hardware store chisel will work fine, as would a hardened large knife (but one of good quality probably wouldn't come as cheaply as a chisel, and may not be quite as hard).

Grading the surface with the flat back of the chisel also does more to keep the surface flat (and is what a woodworker does when using novaculite stones to keep them flat, after working a bevel).