Gear at lvl 60//Materia Melding

[Adachi452]

Hey everyone, im about to hit lvl 60 soon and im wondering about gear and materia melding. I haven't leveled up as a crafter yet, and i havnt done any materia melding myself, or know what the strongest materia's u can get are. So my questions are these...

1) Right now, what is the strongest gear (If i wanted a set for pure strength and dps, and a second set for VIT) to acquire? For both weapons/armor/accessories.

2) Can i start grinding for them right away once i hit 60? or do i need to be a certain distance in the heavensward main story quests.

3) Melding Materia...if i wanted to add Skill Speed materia to my gear...what is the strongest skill speed materia avail atm? (EG. Skill Speed materia lvl5??)

4) Lets say the answer to question 1 for weapons is the "midan metal sword"...and it has 1 slot for materia...(which i would like to use skill speed materia)

Is there a way to craft that sword or have a crafter make it better and increase its base stats in anyway? making it stronger than a stock midan metal sword? Or is there a way a crafter can add MORE materia slots to the sword?? Just trying to see if customizing gear in this way is possible....

5) along side question 4...lets say that the answer is NO...you cant make the sword stronger than what it is, and u only get 1 materia slot. Does anyone know if a weaker sword...with say 4-5 materia slots (with strongest materia) would be MORE powerful than a midan metal sword with just 1? Or is there a high lvl sword/armor/accessories that IS craftable that has the potential to be stronger than the strongest base gear?

I hope im being clear, thanks in advance guys!