Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a wellbore, the drill bit having a cutter which has tungsten carbide inserts and a spear point. The spear point has a neck that joins a smooth portion of the cutter and blades that extend from the neck and converge to an apex. The blades define valleys or spaces between them. A layer of hardfacing is applied to the entire spear point including the interim spaces and the neck.

Abstract: A drill bit having steel teeth is provided with a combination of hardfacing materials on the teeth. The bases of the teeth are hardfaced with nickel-based materials to significantly reduce any potential cracking therein. Portions of the supporting cones adjacent the teeth also may be fabricated with the nickel-based hardfacing. All other portions of the teeth are hardfaced with iron-based materials.

Abstract: Hardfacing is applied on the gage surface of bit blades, the leading and trailing edges of bit blades, and on carbide inserts. The gage surface contains natural diamonds, synthetic diamonds, thermal stable polycrystalline (TSP) diamonds and carbide inserts, and the hardfacing is applied over at least a portion of them. As the primary cutters on the bit blades are worn down during drilling, the gage surface of the bit is also worn down. A hardfacing is applied to the worn gage surfaces of the bit, thereby allowing the bit to drill deeper and longer without requiring replacement.

Abstract: A drill bit having steel teeth is provided with a combination of hardfacing materials on the teeth. The bases of the teeth are hardfaced with nickel-based materials to significantly reduce any potential cracking therein. Portions of the supporting cones adjacent the teeth also may be fabricated with the nickel-based hardfacing. All other portions of the teeth are hardfaced with iron-based materials.

Abstract: Earth-boring tools include at least one up-drill feature disposed on a transition surface so as to be passive during down drilling and active during up drilling and/or back reaming operations. Systems for down drilling and up drilling with drill bits comprising one or more up-drill features are also disclosed. Furthermore, methods for forming a borehole with an earth-boring tool including such up-drill features and for forming an earth-boring tool comprising such up-drill features are also disclosed.