Hi,
What does it mean "improve twice as much" in a smithing perk?
That a. that you get double improvement each time you do it? or b. that you are allowed to do it twice the number of times?
If b. then there's no problem to do it for a favorite item before you get the perk and continue after but if a. you ruined your chance to max it if you do it too soon. Am I right? Which is it?
Thanks

I think the answer to your question is A. When you improve the item, its get improved twice as much as compared to not having the perk. But, as you improve the skill, and also take potions while doing it, it can be improved. Improving an item in quality is based on your smithing skill level.

Edit: Should also note an item can be improved more than once.

Maybe I don't understand you, but it is a., you can make your armour/weapons better. You can also do it as often as you want (so b. is ever in), if you had the correct points in Smithing. You can make all items better without perks in Smithing, but you can make it better with less points with perks. Example given: you can bring a Dwarven sword to damage x (the names, epic, legendary f.e. are of no meaning) with 80 points in Smithing, with the perk you can do it with only 50 points (the numbers are fictional). When you later have f.e 100 points in Smithing and fortify smithing items and fortify smithing potions, you can bring the same sword to higher damage. You can however only enchant an item one time.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Smithing#Item_Quality

Thanks for answers, maybe I thought it wrong and there's not only a. or b.
What I wish to know is:
If I improve an item without having the perk then again after I get the perk (and more skill) will I get to the same result as if I wait to improve it only after the perk? Will the first improvement affect in any way the maximum I can get?
From your answers it seems to me there's no problem if I improve something early on, just that I'll need the ingredients again, which is fine with me.

Yes.

No.


This is correct. You can improve an item multiple times. The level of improvement available is determined by skill level + perks + buffs, regardless of the state of the item prior to your attempt to improve it. Be aware that in order to improve magical items you must have a specific perk.

Also be aware that you can pimp out your gear (of any material) to maximum level with one smithing perk (steel smithing) combined with 4 pieces of (high level) enchanted smithing gear and a strong smithing potion. You don't have to have elven smithing, for example, in order to improve elven armor and weapons; you only need the perk if you intend to make your own elven weapons and armor.