Patent ID: 6861612

Claim:
A method for applying wear reducing material to a tool joint useful in a wellbore in drilling operations, the method comprising positioning the tool joint adjacent laser beam apparatus, delivering wear-reducing material to a location on the tool joint to which the wear-reducing material is to be applied, the wear-reducing material having a melting temperature, heating the wear-reducing material with the laser beam apparatus to a temperature not exceeding the melting temperature of the wear-reducing material thereby welding the wear-reducing material to the tool joint, wherein the laser beam apparatus is defocused so that no plasma is formed adjacent the tool joint, wherein the wear-reducing material is applied with a substantially uniform thickness to the tool joint, wherein a metallurgical bond is formed between the wear-reducing material and the tool joint, wherein the wear-reducing material includes carbides, wherein the carbides are in a matrix of wear resistant material, and wherein the tool joint is made of base metal and there is less than 5% dilution of the base metal by the applied wear-reducing material.