Basic vs. Expert Salvage Kits

I am still confused about when I should use and expert kit rather than a basic one. I know that if I want to salvage runes etc. I need to use the expert, but I don't know when to use the expert to obtain (possibly) rare crafting mats. I would greatly appreciate some guidance on this issue.

Use the basic kit only when you want basic crafting materials (wood, cloth, etc.) Know that using this kit WILL destroy the item.

The expert kit is used for pulling mods or insignia off the weapon or getting crafting materials. You can get basic (often more than if you had used a normal kit) OR rare crafting mats. Using an expert kit to salvage materials WILL destroy the item. Salvaging a mod or insignia MAY destroy the item.

Basically, use the normal kit only if you want basic materials. Use the expert kit for mods. Otherwise, sell the item to a merchant, you'll probably make more gold that way.

I use Expert only on "highly salvagable" items or on trophies from end games area.

Using them on trophies from the Ascalon area is a bit of a waste.

But thats just my humble opinion.

You should always use an expert kit. When you change your armours and have salvaged all the runes from it, you can regain a small part of the cost by hoping to get rare materials used in your armour.

i Allways use Exp salvage kit for runes insighias mods and materials.. perf for some mods.. I dont see point using normal kit

You don't get more common mats using an expert kit rather than a basic. If you only expect common mats from an item, it's cheaper to use the basic.

I only use basic Salvage Kits when I specifically want Iron/Wood/Scales and other common mats.
Otherwise, Expert all the way.

Both of the wikis say that you actually get more common materials from using an expert versus a common...anyone know if this is true or not?

You can get extra basic materials with an expert kit - but it's usually only one or two extra, in my experience, but you can still easily end up with the same number you'd get with a basic kit.

I'd say always use expert - if you are using it to gain crafting materials, the added value you receive from the rare materials and the additional common materials will far outweigh the cost. Many high level swords I have salvaged have wielded more than 5 steel ingots, so that's one salvage that has paid for the kit entirely.

Tx for the feedback. Two follow-up questions:
1. Do low-level salvage items ever yield rare mats? Is there a rule for when salvage items have better potential for yielding rare mats (ie. lvl 10 mob areas and above...or something like this)?
2. When is it beneficial to salvage from an item instead of selling it off?

In my opinion, using expert/superior salv kits vs regular kits, depends on your station in the game. If you are still at non-max areas, just use regular kits as its unlikely you'll get any good benefit from using expert or superior kits since those kits are expensive and if you are starting out $$ is tough to come by. Or just sell the stuff if its a very low end item, as a regular kit may only give 1 iron ore or something. If you need a rune or mod, of course you need expert or superior kits. Also anything with "highly salvageable", alwasy use expert kits, as the likelihood of getting rare or lots of regular materials increases greatly.

If you are later in the game and can afford many expert or superior kits, then pretty much use them to salv all drops (except low end crap) as you will get rare materials, and if you dont, eh you can afford the kits. If you have Factions or Nightfall, keep all the imperial commendations and related items and trade them in for superior kits, that way it costs nothing and use them to salv everything.

Presently I just use regular kits to open space in my inventory if im vanquishing or in dungeons with lots of drops since I pick up everything. When i vanquish i usually take 2 regular kits with me, pick up everything. If I need to make room, i start salvaging whites, and many times by the end of the vanquish/dungeon, Ill have a near full stack of materials that can sell for over 1k each. But hey thats me, haha. Have fun.