Note that there are 3 versions of the pickaxe: the wooden 'newbie' pickaxe which cannot be [[improve]]d but does [[nodrop|not drop]] upon [[death]], the normal iron version which can be improved and the [[Crude pickaxe]] which can be created with a pickaxe head [[Pickaxe head (stone)|made of stone]].
On There is no penalty for failure, the [[shaft]] is destroyed and the lump used is reduced in weightcreation of an iron pickaxe.