Methods of removing shoulder powder from fixed cutter bits

An infiltrated downhole tool comprising:

• a fluid cavity for conveying drilling fluid;
• a metal blank disposed about the fluid cavity;
• a hard composite portion formed radially between a lower portion of the fluid cavity and a lower portion of the metal blank, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the infiltrated downhole tool, and extending below the metal blank, the hard composite portion forming at least a portion of a cutter blade having a plurality of pockets configured to receive respective cutting elements for engaging a subterranean formation, wherein the hard composite comprises a reinforcement material dispersed in a binder material, wherein the reinforcement material comprises reinforcing particles, and wherein the reinforcing particles form at least fifty percent by weight of the reinforcement material;
• a first auxiliary portion disposed radially between an upper portion of the fluid cavity and an upper portion of the metal blank, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the infiltrated downhole tool;
• and
• a second auxiliary portion disposed about the metal blank and extending to the hard composite portion such that a boundary between the hard composite portion and the second auxiliary portion extends toward the metal blank at an upward angle ranging between 300 and 900 relative to vertical, wherein the second auxiliary portion comprises an indentation formed at the boundary between the hard composite portion and the second auxiliary portion, wherein the indentation extends radially inward from a radially outer surface of the second auxiliary portion and from a radially outer surface of the hard composite portion, wherein the second auxiliary portion comprises a same material as the first auxiliary portion, and wherein respective machinability ratings of the first and second auxiliary portions are each greater than a machinability rating of the hard composite portion.