Patent ID: 8776341

Claim:
A method for repairing an earth-boring drill bit having a body formed of a matrix material, the body having a plurality of blades having polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutting elements bonded to the plurality of blades at least partially within receptacles of the plurality of blades, each blade of the plurality of blades having a gage surface, the earth-boring drill bit further comprising at least one wear-resistant member bonded into the matrix material of the body to resist abrasive wear on the body, the method comprising: after use of the earth-boring drill bit and damage or wear to the PDC cutting elements and the at least one wear-resistant member, removing at least some of the PDC cutting elements from at least some of the receptacles in the plurality of blades of the body and subsequently applying a layer of hardfacing alloy over the matrix material of the plurality of blades and over and around the at least one wear-resistant member and substantially covering the entire gage surface of each blade of the plurality of blades, at a temperature less than 1200°C.; grinding the layer of hardfacing alloy on each gage surface to provide the earth-boring drill bit with a restored diameter defined by the gage surfaces of the plurality of blades, the restored bit diameter being at least substantially equal to an original bit diameter defined by the gage surfaces of the plurality of blades prior to the use of the earth-boring drill bit; and bonding new PDC cutting elements to the body at least partially within the at least some of the receptacles after applying the layer of hardfacing alloy.