Okay, that's what I'm doing wrong - I'm not turning it off at the right point.
Oh, my alch char - well my fury, he's a lvl 14 artisan ... but got caustic assault at art lvl - excuse me - scholar level (scholar is the path you pick at art. lvl 9 to get alch, jewel, and scribe) - was about 12.
U need to save the "loam" u get as a byproduct of making trinoids for the ink for app 3 upgrades - or buy from players via the broker. On the jewel table u make a "poison vial" - study the poi recipes on the alch table to make sure u are making the right vial u need.
Okay, u got a poison vial, u buy a Laurent Solution or some such from the merch there in the trade instance - this is about one and a half silver. And maybe u make a sycomore solution or oil somehting. U can buy sycamore dirt cheap (2c usually) off the broker from players) - think that's it - anyway on the alch table u just make the Caustic Assault.
Be sure to check for new tradeskill buffs as u level and read them carefully. The ones that up progress a lot for power are often good to get a pristine outcome. Experiment. U will want to use player-made drink while tradeskillin cuz it regens your power a LOT , even while skillin. Tier 2 drinks are whisky, um, antonican coffee I think- see if other threads can tell you.
GL