Management's Plans and Liquidity	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Management’s Plans and Liquidity [Abstract]
Liquidity Disclosure	Management’s Plans and Liquidity Liquidity As of June 30, 2012, the Company's current assets totaled $195.6 million, its current liabilities totaled $118.3 million, and its working capital was $77.3 million, as compared to working capital of $70.1 million as of December 31, 2011. HNH the parent company The Company's debt is principally held by H&H Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HNH. For HNH, the parent company, sources of cash flow consist of its cash on-hand, distributions from its principal subsidiary, H&H Group, and other discrete transactions. H&H Group's credit facilities restrict H&H Group's ability to transfer any cash or other assets to HNH, subject to the following exceptions: (i) unsecured loans for required payments to the WHX Corporation Pension Plan, a defined benefit pension plan sponsored by the Company (the “WHX Pension Plan”), (ii) payments by H&H Group to HNH for the payment of taxes by HNH that are attributable to H&H Group and its subsidiaries, and (iii) unsecured loans, dividends or other payments for other uses in the aggregate principal amount, together with the aggregate amount of all other such loans, dividends and payments, not to exceed $60.0 million in the aggregate (as of June 30, 2012, $56.3 million has been used). These exceptions are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the maintenance of minimum amounts of excess borrowing availability under the credit facilities. H&H Group's credit facilities are collateralized by first priority liens on substantially all of the assets of H&H Group and its subsidiaries. HNH's ongoing operating cash flow requirements consist of arranging for the funding of the minimum requirements of the WHX Pension Plan and paying HNH's administrative costs. The Company expects to have required minimum contributions to the WHX Pension Plan of $7.8 million for the remainder of 2012, $10.8 million, $17.5 million, $18.0 million, $16.0 million, and $59.7 million in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and thereafter, respectively. Such required contributions are determined based upon assumptions regarding such matters as discount rates on future obligations, assumed rates of return on plan assets and legislative changes. Actual future pension costs and required funding obligations will be affected by changes in the factors and assumptions described in the previous sentence, as well as other changes such as any plan termination. As of June 30, 2012, HNH, the parent company, had cash of approximately $1.1 million and current liabilities of approximately $1.0 million. HNH held an equity investment in common stock of a public company with a cost of $24.3 million and a market value of $17.8 million as of June 30, 2012. Handy & Harman Group Ltd. The ability of H&H Group to draw on its U.S. revolving line of credit is limited by its borrowing base of accounts receivable and inventory. As of June 30, 2012, H&H Group's availability under its U.S. revolving credit facilities was $64.4 million, and as of July 31, 2012, was approximately $71.7 million. There can be no assurances that H&H Group will continue to have access to its lines of credit if financial performance of its subsidiaries do not satisfy the relevant borrowing base criteria and financial covenants set forth in the applicable financing agreements. If H&H Group does not meet certain of its financial covenants or satisfy its borrowing base criteria, and if it is unable to secure necessary waivers or other amendments from the respective lenders on terms acceptable to management, its ability to access available lines of credit could be limited, its debt obligations could be accelerated by the respective lenders, and liquidity could be adversely affected. Management is utilizing the following strategies to continue to enhance liquidity: (1) continuing to implement improvements, using the HNH Business System, throughout all of the Company's operations to increase sales and operating efficiencies, (2) supporting profitable sales growth both internally and potentially through acquisitions, (3) evaluating from time to time and as appropriate, strategic alternatives with respect to its businesses and/or assets, and (4) seeking financing alternatives that may lower its cost of capital and/or enhance current cash flow. The Company continues to examine all of its options and strategies, including acquisitions, divestitures, and other corporate transactions, to increase cash flow and stockholder value. The Company has explored and will continue to explore from time to time refinancing for its existing credit facilities, as well as potential alternative or additional sources of financing. The relative attractiveness of any such financing or refinancing to the Company is subject to prevailing conditions in the credit markets. The Company expects to refinance its senior debt prior to its maturity date of July 1, 2013.

Management’s Plans and Liquidity

Liquidity

As of June 30, 2012, the Company's current assets totaled $195.6 million, its current liabilities totaled $118.3 million, and its working capital was $77.3 million, as compared to working capital of $70.1 million as of December 31, 2011.

HNH the parent company

The Company's debt is principally held by H&H Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HNH.

For HNH, the parent company, sources of cash flow consist of its cash on-hand, distributions from its principal subsidiary, H&H Group, and other discrete transactions. H&H Group's credit facilities restrict H&H Group's ability to transfer any cash or other assets to HNH, subject to the following exceptions: (i) unsecured loans for required payments to the WHX Corporation Pension Plan, a defined benefit pension plan sponsored by the Company (the “WHX Pension Plan”), (ii) payments by H&H Group to HNH for the payment of taxes by HNH that are attributable to H&H Group and its subsidiaries, and (iii) unsecured loans, dividends or other payments for other uses in the aggregate principal amount, together with the aggregate amount of all other such loans, dividends and payments, not to exceed $60.0 million in the aggregate (as of June 30, 2012, $56.3 million has been used). These exceptions are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the maintenance of minimum amounts of excess borrowing availability under the credit facilities. H&H Group's credit facilities are collateralized by first priority liens on substantially all of the assets of H&H Group and its subsidiaries.

HNH's ongoing operating cash flow requirements consist of arranging for the funding of the minimum requirements of the WHX Pension Plan and paying HNH's administrative costs. The Company expects to have required minimum contributions to the WHX Pension Plan of $7.8 million for the remainder of 2012, $10.8 million, $17.5 million, $18.0 million, $16.0 million, and $59.7 million in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and thereafter, respectively. Such required contributions are determined based upon assumptions regarding such matters as discount rates on future obligations, assumed rates of return on plan assets and legislative changes. Actual future pension costs and required funding obligations will be affected by changes in the factors and assumptions described in the previous sentence, as well as other changes such as any plan termination.

As of June 30, 2012, HNH, the parent company, had cash of approximately $1.1 million and current liabilities of approximately $1.0 million. HNH held an equity investment in common stock of a public company with a cost of $24.3 million and a market value of $17.8 million as of June 30, 2012.

Handy & Harman Group Ltd.

The ability of H&H Group to draw on its U.S. revolving line of credit is limited by its borrowing base of accounts receivable and inventory. As of June 30, 2012, H&H Group's availability under its U.S. revolving credit facilities was $64.4 million, and as of July 31, 2012, was approximately $71.7 million.

There can be no assurances that H&H Group will continue to have access to its lines of credit if financial performance of its subsidiaries do not satisfy the relevant borrowing base criteria and financial covenants set forth in the applicable financing agreements. If H&H Group does not meet certain of its financial covenants or satisfy its borrowing base criteria, and if it is unable to secure necessary waivers or other amendments from the respective lenders on terms acceptable to management, its ability to access available lines of credit could be limited, its debt obligations could be accelerated by the respective lenders, and liquidity could be adversely affected.

Management is utilizing the following strategies to continue to enhance liquidity: (1) continuing to implement improvements, using the HNH Business System, throughout all of the Company's operations to increase sales and operating efficiencies, (2) supporting profitable sales growth both internally and potentially through acquisitions, (3) evaluating from time to time and as appropriate, strategic alternatives with respect to its businesses and/or assets, and (4) seeking financing alternatives that may lower its cost of capital and/or enhance current cash flow. The Company continues to examine all of its options and strategies, including acquisitions, divestitures, and other corporate transactions, to increase cash flow and stockholder value.

The Company has explored and will continue to explore from time to time refinancing for its existing credit facilities, as well as potential alternative or additional sources of financing. The relative attractiveness of any such financing or refinancing to the Company is subject to prevailing conditions in the credit markets. The Company expects to refinance its senior debt prior to its maturity date of July 1, 2013.