So, once i have an orange weapon I can put mods into, as long as I keep the mods up to date with my leveling do I ever need another weapon?

Nope, you don't. Just need to update the mods in it.

Orange items were created to allow you to keep a nice looking piece of gear. In other MMOs you might have a great looking piece of gear that you are forced to abandon because you outlevel it. Be aware that critically crafted orange gear will have an extra slot for augments. So that might be a reason to want to switch. In the next major release, v1.3, an augment slot can be added to an existing piece of orange gear. Edited May 17, 2012 by Owsley

Be aware it's usually cheaper to get a whole new weapon instead of constantly changing weapon pieces.

Be aware it's usually cheaper to get a whole new weapon instead of constantly changing weapon pieces.

 

How can it get cheaper than 0 credits? You don't need to remove the mods inside the weapon to put new ones in, you can simply "buy" mods with planetary commendations from questing and put them in your orange weapon without costing you a single credit.

Or you could use those some commendations to buy a new weapon and skip the pieces & parts game. Sure, if you find a weapon you like the look of (and it's an orange shell) certainly keep it and upgrade it. But it's a heck of a lot less hassle to just replace the entire thing. Save the weapon dissection for end game.

Be aware it's usually cheaper to get a whole new weapon instead of constantly changing weapon pieces.

Be aware that it is usually not cheaper but more expensive.

 

if we are for example looking at commendations vendors on leveling planets

 

Buy a whole new weapon: 14 commendations

 

vs.

 

Buy new modifications for your old one:

Barrel or Hilt: 7 commendations

Mod: 2 commendations

Hilt: 2 commendations

 

All 3 in total: 7+2+2=11 commendations

 

Now which is it? 14>11 or 11>14 ?

 

granted the new weapons also come with a color crystal, which you can't buy as a separate item with commendations, but would need to obtain in some other way.

 

 

Although mostly just upgrading the barrel or hilt benefits a lot more than upgrading any other modification

also depending on class/ crew skills you canmake parts of your weapon. I have a jedi with artice,and I made my own augmented double lightsaber and sella lot of single light sabers with with augments slots.