Reedy metal suffers from incomplete forge welding between its internal layers or fibers, leaving long, thin defects that resemble reeds. This typically happens when rolling or forging bundled rods or scrap without enough heat or flux to fuse them solidly. The resulting bar is weak under transverse loads and prone to splitting along its length.
Heard on the job
This batch of wrought bar is too reedy to upset; it splits like firewood as soon as the hammer hits it.