Parent Company Condensed Financial Information (Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Selling, general and administrative expenses									$ (128,583)	$ (116,383)	$ (105,283)
Pension expense									(5,342)	(3,313)	(6,357)
Other:
Income from continuing operations before tax and equity investment	4,278	14,004	17,687	2,180	3,818	7,331	16,546	7,519	38,149	35,214	28,328
Tax benefit									(16,028)	(13,065)	106,088
Gain from associated company, net of tax									6,006	0	0
Net income	12,497	9,643	11,872	8,017	4,503	5,930	10,952	5,096	42,029	26,481	138,775
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Changes in pension liability and post-retirement benefit obligations									68,328	(43,702)	(82,805)
Tax effect of changes in pension liability and post-retirement benefit obligations									(25,653)	14,455	27,211
Change in market value of securities									7,113	(14,948)	7,835
Tax effect of change in market value of securities									(3,041)	6,054	(3,014)
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(2,510)	362	(1,751)
Other comprehensive income (loss)									44,237	(37,779)	(52,524)
Comprehensive income (loss)	54,450	7,694	12,691	11,431	(27,411)	9,551	1,617	4,945	86,266	(11,298)	86,251
Parent
Equity in income of subsidiaries, net of tax									44,275	35,498	40,044
Selling, general and administrative expenses									(7,790)	(7,720)	(5,883)
Pension expense									(5,206)	(3,195)	(6,316)
Other:
Interest expense - Handy & Handy notes payable									0	(4,087)	(2,889)
Interest income - Bairnco notes receivable									0	560	491
Other income (expense)									0	15	(3)
Income from continuing operations before tax and equity investment									31,279	21,071	25,444
Tax benefit									4,744	5,410	113,331
Gain from associated company, net of tax									6,006	0	0
Net income									42,029	26,481	138,775
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Changes in pension liability and post-retirement benefit obligations									68,328	(43,702)	(82,805)
Tax effect of changes in pension liability and post-retirement benefit obligations									(25,653)	14,455	27,211
Change in market value of securities									7,113	(14,948)	7,835
Tax effect of change in market value of securities									(3,041)	6,054	(3,014)
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(2,510)	362	(1,751)
Other comprehensive income (loss)									44,237	(37,779)	(52,524)
Comprehensive income (loss)									$ 86,266	$ (11,298)	$ 86,251