Check main website forum. In order to get a better chance of compounding higher level items, you need a higher level of primary alchemy. For this item, I think even a higher level junior is highly recommended.

But yes, the recipe for primary DOES work, it just wastes an extra item. XD

The recipe isn't invalid, it just isn't efficient. This is partly because many of the recipes entered originally did not have the <Alchemy Field> filled in appropriately. If you don't understand why the recipe works, I recommend doing a little more research before potentially burning through alot more gold.

Synthesis Paradise has alot of guides like this, anything by TheRealRafoi is highly recommended.

If the problem is that you don't have a sufficient level alchemy, the high recommendation by those who don't mind being clickish is make small wooden gears from lauan wood (via manufacturing) and after you make a few stacks of that, start compounding them with each other. You will eventually get a couple of lauan wood back or other wood items which can be recompounded again and again. Since there is no manufacturing time, you can actually come out ON TOP in terms of wood if you are lucky enough. The other side of that is of course that each compound click gets you closer to the next level of alchemy.