not completely encompass the surface 80 u2032 such a configuration may be achieved by hardfacing the preformed grooves 82 or by hardfacing the entire surface 80 u2032 and then partially exposing steel surfaces 87 by machining or grinding to create the gage 80 again this may be advantageous to modify residual stresses in the hardfacing alternatively sintered carbide may be placed onto steel surfaces 87 and u201c welded u201d into place by hardfacing for increased erosion and abrasion resistance or otherwise attached as known in the art similar hardfacing configurations may be implemented with the various gage sections 90 disclosed in fig9 a 9e as well as with noted alternative cross sectional geometries in an alternative embodiment it may be desirable to orient the hardfacing according to expected loads or contemplated stress experienced by the bit 10 during operation for example since a gage pad 80 on a rotating drill bit 10 during operation is traveling in a downwardly extending shallow helix it may be advantageous to orient or align grooves with respect to a helix angle or range of angles corresponding to a range of rates of penetration such that loading experienced by the hardfacing during drilling is better supported with regard to its interaction with the encountered formation fig1 a 11c depict side elevations of steel body bit blades 88 with steel surfaces 80 u2032 in the gage sections of the bit blade 88 each of these steel surfaces 80 u2032 depicted.