I set up a base to refine copper where there are a lot of nodes so I don't have to transport it all. Why bring the mountain to Mohammad?

In terms of pickaxes you can save the resources and just bring the antler and repair that with a regular workbench on site...

But really if you set up a base around 4 or 5 close nodes you can run a load back and toss it in to process while you repair and get another load.

Much faster to process the ore while you are digging it out rather than just standing next to it constantly keeping it going. Multitask makes things easy in this game.