To start, only swords, axes, hammers, bows, and staves (not wands) have weapon upgrades. There is two different types of upgrades for each weapon, one "prefix" upgrade and one "suffix" upgrade. Each weapon can have one prefix and one suffix on them.
Swords have hilts (prefix upgrade) and pommels (suffix upgrade). Axes have hafts (prefix upgrade) and grips (suffix upgrade). Hammers have hafts (prefix) and grips (suffix), you can see that hammers and axes are called the same, but they cannot be used on each-other. Bows have strings (prefix upgrade) and grips (suffix upgrade). Finaly, staves have heads (prefix upgrade) and wrappings (suffix upgrade). If you cannot remember what upgrade is witch, remember this if the upgrade says "modifier upgrade" it is a prefix, if it says "upgrade of upgrade" it is suffix.
A weapon does not need to be "clean" to apply a new upgrade to it, it will just overwrite the old upgrade of the same type (prefix or suffix). If you are not sure wich upgrade is giving you what bonus on a weapon, compare the name to the modifier. The prefix upgrade always comes before the weapons name, and the suffix upgrade after. Weapons can also have a "intergrated" modifier on them. This modifier cannot be found on a upgrade, it can only get on the weapon via it spawning with it. A fiery dragon sword always comes with a hilt (hence "fiery") this hilt cannot be overwriten, I am not sure if you can salvage the hilt from it because I have enver tried.
Swords, axes, hammers, and bows can get the following intergrated modifiers:
Damage +10-15% while above 50% health
Damage +10-20% while below 50% health
Damage +10-15% while enchanted
Damage +10-15% while in a stance
Damage +10-20% while hexed
Damage +10-20% vs hexed foe
Damage +10-15% *or* 10-20% all the time. I am not sure wich is the max on this one, I am fairly sure it is 15% though. But any weapon with the damage all the time [B]always[/B} comes with a downside. Such as -5 energy, -10 armor while attacking or something like that.
Staves can get different intergrated modifiers. They can get:
Improved casting speed (all skills): 5-10% chance
Improved recharge time (all skills): 5-10% chance
Imrpoved casting speed while using *insert attribute here* skills: 10-20% chance
Imrpoved recharge time while using *insert attribute here* skills: 10-20% chance
As for salvaging upgrades from a weapon I normaly get the suffix modifier 70% of the time, if I do even get on the upgrades.
I hope this helps!
If I have missed anything or have made a topic that has already been posted then inform me.
