ice tool pick replacement

What are the guidelines for how often to replace ice tool picks?
Mine on my Petzl Quarks seem to have lost their profile and I can no longer sharpen them to work adequately; I climed a lot of ice and mixed last season (2x every weekend)....so is it time?

y-idunno-maybecouldbe-no-butthenagain-allright-es

Sounds like you need a new file! Post a pic and maybe people can tell you a bit more..

I say you need a new file as well. Picks are fine.

Because I know some are not aware, and this may or may not include you Tobe, a bit of imparted wisdom; Steel files are generally designed to file only in one direction: Usually from the end of the tool, towards the handle. Holding the file, you will be pushing it away from you. When holding the (pick), turn the file around (handle out), and push the steel away from you. Dragging steel the wrong way on your file will dull, or even completely ruin it. A decent steel file should last you for as long as your brain can function well enough, to remember where you last put it.
Hope this helps!
-Z

thanks Phoenix....i knew that you are supposed to sharpen only in one direction. are you sure that direction is away from the pick/towards the shaft? maybe that is the problem....i have been sharpening in the other direction--away from the pick.
i think either way i may order a new set of picks, b/c their original profile has been lost.

Regardless of the visualization, you will KNOW if you are going the right way. Either it is a relatively nice smooth file sound that is removing metal, or it's dragging and skipping. Typically within a single stroke you'll know if you're going the right way.

Perhaps you've removed too much metal?? When you get your new picks, sit down with someone that's been ice climbing for a while and watch what they do, because it must be something.

Or maybe you climb alot of mix or have a heavy swing...who knows

Buy some new picks, I've broken 2 sets of picks......there just metal and you do bash the crap out of them against a solid surface.....