Refining works but you need to refine a lot of raw mats.
Doing daily crafting writs is also a good way to get gold upgrade mats.
^^^^This, but you also should have max points in extraction passives.
PC/NA/DC
Breton Sorcerer Maester.White - BB meets GoT >Master Crafter< { 9 Traits completed 4/23/15 } TANSTAAFL--->There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.....Robert Heinlein Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea....Heinlein All those moments will be lost in time, like tears...in...rain. Time to die. "Blade Runner" ESO: the game you hate to love and love to hate....( >_<) May RNG be with you (*,_,*)
For what it's worth, in a stack of 200 raw materials, with max points in the extraction passive, you'll usually get 1 Gold Temper. So, set your expectations accordingly.
I have maxed out hireling and extraction passives. I will do some writs and hope for the best. What I do not need I will sell for gold to buy gold upgrade material.