Shaft Protectors

Hi all, I'm new to this group and have a nice solidly made X Y table
(1" shafts) very well made by someone here at the Uni many years ago
for use as an optical something or other. I would like to convert it
to a PCB drilling/milling machine and the first thing that I want to
do is to protect the shafts and bearings from fibreglass
contamination or if used for milling, from metal dust entry. What
should I use that will collapse and stretch without affecting the
operation? It needs to be cheap!
Regards,
Paul Waller
University of Tasmania
Australia.