Various methods of hardbanding an apparatus are described. In one aspect of the invention an improved method of re-applying a hardbanding alloy to worn tool joints of a previously hardbanded drill pipe results in preservation of the metallurgical properties of the drill pipe and preservation of the internal polymer coating that lines the drill pipe. A method for applying hardbanding includes arc welding a consumable metal welding wire to a tool joint having a surface temperature that ranges from about 50° F. to about 170° F. and the arc welding power supply utilizes DC current. The method herein produces a hardbanded tool joint comprising a heat affected zone (HAZ) of a based metal having a Rockwell hardness of 40 Rc or less.