Quick easy to make jig to hold chainsaw in a bench vise.

[frogpond]

I have soft jaws (some kind of plastic ) with magnets imbedded in them, that fit over the jaws of my vice. Not sure, but I think they were from Harbor Freight. However, I don't actually use them when clamping up a chainsaw bar for filing the chain (I use the Stihl 2in1), and I don't notice any marks. Besides, it's a chainsaw, not a violin! The paint on the bar inevitably gets scratched and worn off just from normal use... I don't wax my tractor, either.

 

[Egon]

C clamp and two scrap pieces of board.

 

[scootr]

I have magnetic soft jaw adapters in rubber and aluminum but neither works well. They are too flexible and floppy to hold anything very tight. I dug up an extra vice and put smooth jaws in it.
Now I have 2 vices to choose from (actually 3 if you count the old one in the barn) 1 has serrated jaws and one smooth jaws

 

[xyz123]

Never a issue here on bars etc. But have thought about some of the protective jaws for more delicate items.

I see many different bars in my vise over the years and never a issue. Cheap or pricey bars.

Old smoothed over jaws