You want a thin rope like 1/4in or less, it will fit the space and cushion the valve.
I dont think I would do it against the piston, as only a small portion , on edge touches..
You may not want to buy a tool, it should be fairly easy to make.
You def, want to stuff rags in your camchain cavity, oil drains, and use a screwdriver magnet to catch the keepers....