Merge two items or substitute an item with another

[DiegoPro77]

Hi guys. While trying to add compatibilities between some mods I came across a repeating problem: two items that are similar (or even the same, as an equipment) and have similar uses but are two different prototypes, therefore two different items.

Let's say I have an item called "mod1-sand" and another called "mod2-sand".
They have their respective crafting trees and uses: how can merge them together?
(Like deciding to delete the 1st item and use the other one in my mods recipes without needing to create huge "if mods... then" in the prototype files or in data.lua)

Thank you in advice.