The Chinese made 3018 is one of the easiest to use and most popular of the CNC machines out there. And you can get them cheap. However...if you're wanting one to do checkered design on hardwood pistol grips, you're probably talking 3D work and the learning curve on that is tougher because you're including the Z axis. Or let me put it another and maybe simpler way: the closer to a flat plane you can operate on the easier things will be for you. The basic CNC machine with cheap motor can be had for $150 or less. A laser head could be close to $300 depending on the power you need.
Here are some things I've learned about the 3018:
As I said, they're not costly. Micro Center has them on sale right now for $129.99---
https://tinyurl.com/muvk3b96The motor you get with it might not be strong enough (or at least you'll need to make many shallow passes with it). Most people will adapt a Dremel Moto-Tool to the harness and it will be okay. Some will adapt a small router motor. Or you can purchase a stronger motor made for the 3018, but the more motor you use...well, see below
The steel rails the motor sled rides on won't be strong enough if you use a heavier and stronger motor. You'll need to do some alteration and get at least 7/16" rods. The original ones are something like 10mm in diameter. You might not think an extra 1mm in diameter will make a difference, but it does. 1/2" would be ideal, but there are some limits.
You can use a laser head on it very easily. All you have to do is buy one (the strength you want/need), mount it in place of the motor, plug it in and adjust the beam correctly. It uses GRBL software. Using a laser on a flat surface is so simple I think today's 10 year old would have no difficulty mastering it. You're just talking an x/y axis program.
Using the laser head to make flat cuts on just about anything it is designed to handle is not difficult. In fact I would say even a beginner might need a few hours of general fiddling around to understand it. If I can do it, you can do it.
You can take a look at the YF gaskets I made below. As I recall I used one of the Fel-Pro materials and they haven't given me a bit of trouble.
Good luck!
