How much does it cost to get to 450 crafting?
Easiest answer : http://gw2crafts.net/huntsman_450.html
Use the navigation at the top for the profession you want. Site is live and always up to date on current costs of levelling.
Any guide that doesn’t suggest refining materials to ~425 (I think I went to 428) then make oils/sharpening stones etc and reselling them on the TP to 450 at almost no cost is a guide written by monkeys that have more money than sense.
Straight Dumpstered [ONE] – Sanctum of Rall
It costs nothing. Also, why would you sell the ascended materials when they most likely will be used in crafting a precursor?
TL;DR > Is refining ascended materials profitable on TP and how much does it cost to get there?
Not really: last time I checked I could buy a t7 material for about the cost of the components it’s made of.