Patent ID: 7048080

Claim:
A rotary cone bit comprising: a steel bit body comprising at least one leg extending therefrom; a steel cone rotatably disposed on the leg, the cone comprising a plurality of cutting elements projecting outwardly therefrom; wherein one or more of the cutting elements comprises a steel base portion projecting outwardly a distance from the cone, and an end portion attached to the base and extending therefrom to a tip of the cutting element, wherein the end portion is a substantially solid part and is formed from a wear resistant material, wherein the end portion is made by the process of: combining powders selected from the group consisting of carbides, borides, nitrides, carbonitrides, refractory metals, cermets, Co, Fe, Ni, steel, and combinations thereof, to form a material mixture; shaping the material mixture into the form of the end portion; and applying the shaped material mixture onto the base when the base is in a pre-existing rigid state and is part of the cone.