An earth-boring bit is formed having a bit body in a cantilevered bearing shaft that depends from the bit body. The bearing shaft is provided with a journal bearing surface. A cutter is mounted to the bearing shaft and has a mating bearing surface for engagement with the journal bearing surface of the bearing shaft. Provided on the bearing shaft is a layer of diamond film that is formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) as a free standing film. This layer of diamond film is brazed to the bearing shaft so that it forms the journal bearing surface. By utilizing the CVD methods of forming diamond film, the bearing surface can be formed in a variety of shapes and contours and with a surface texture or configuration as desired.
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