It may take 6 tries, but you will get a pristine item if your using your low level buffs correctly.
Also experement with every buff you have and write down results. Buffs always have the same effect when triggered.
Your default pulse is +50 Progress -10 Durability. This can be changed by buffs and critical success/failures on your skill check. This is a 5 to 1 ratio.
So trigger a single buff alone 4-5 times and write down the results.. If you get say +56 -11 a couple times, then that specific buff will give you +6 Progress -1 Durability. Even though this buff drops your durability by 1, you get 6 progress from it. This is more then a 5 to 1 ratio, so its better then just letting it plug along on its own. Note that some buffs lower your chance for success, these are "normaly" a good idea to use when your skill is high. The return you get tends to higher then any failures over the long run. But if you find a buff or buff combo that gives you a lot of failures, put it on hold for a couple levels. ;)
Once you get an idea of what your buffs do, its trial and error for which combos work best. I generaly suggest using all of your starting buffs on every pulse if your power does not drain to fast. Using all your low level buffs and having a decent skill level will result in pristine about 20% or higher of the time.
Note: Sub-componets do NOT have to be pristine and usinig pristine gives you no advantage. Only the TOP componet on your finnal combine must be pristine to try and get a Pristine finnal product. While you can make high quality sub-componets for exp, they do not effect your finnal result.
Note: You have a chance for a skill incresae on every buff, and on completion of the item. So you should be using your buffs as often as possible. At least 1 every pulse, if not 2 and 3. Also the chance for a skill increase seems to be tied to the con of the buff. A yellow buff may give you a skill increase every couple times you trigger it while a grey buff may only give you a skill increase every 100 uses. (random number).