Management's Plans and Liquidity Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2012 Parent Company [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Handy & Harman Group Ltd. [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Handy & Harman Group Ltd. [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Management's Plans and Liquidity [Line Items]
Total current assets	$ 195,587,000	$ 170,494,000
Total current liabilities	118,265,000	100,425,000			1,000,000
Working capital	77,300,000	70,100,000
Credit facility restriction exceptions						60,000,000
Credit facility, amount used						56,300,000
Pension plan required minimum contributions, remainder of 2012								7,800,000
Pension plan required minimum contributions, 2013								10,800,000
Pension plan required minimum contributions, 2014								17,500,000
Pension plan required minimum contributions, 2015								18,000,000
Pension plan required minimum contributions, 2016								16,000,000
Pension plan required minimum contributions, thereafter								59,700,000
Cash and cash equivalents	6,244,000	6,841,000	8,010,000	8,762,000	1,100,000
Equity investment in common stock of a public company, cost	24,300,000
Equity investment in common stock of a public company, market value	17,800,000
Credit facility maximum borrowing capacity						$ 64,400,000	$ 71,700,000