Parent Company Condensed Financial Information (Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Subsidiary restricted net assets	$ 353,000,000
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	31,649,000	10,300,000	15,301,000	6,841,000
Deferred income tax assets - current	26,719,000	20,507,000
Prepaid and other current assets	7,111,000	8,930,000
Total current assets	258,544,000	230,373,000
Investment in associated company	23,936,000	33,983,000
Deferred income tax assets	71,710,000	59,686,000
Total assets	538,759,000	509,723,000
Current Liabilities:
Trade payables	30,805,000	29,103,000
Accrued liabilities	23,368,000	24,514,000
Total current liabilities	77,461,000	82,706,000
Accrued pension liability	208,388,000	142,540,000
Total liabilities	489,370,000	375,851,000
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock - $.01 par value; authorized 180,000 shares; issued 13,580 and 13,444 shares, respectively	136,000	134,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(235,822,000)	(181,931,000)
Additional paid-in capital	570,256,000	565,441,000
Treasury stock, at cost - 2,800 and 458 shares, respectively	(70,375,000)	(9,796,000)
Accumulated deficit	(214,806,000)	(239,976,000)
Total stockholders' equity	49,389,000	133,872,000	51,928,000	58,998,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	538,759,000	509,723,000
Parent
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	22,106,000	1,853,000	735,000	1,511,000
Deferred income tax assets - current	10,037,000	4,062,000
Prepaid and other current assets	82,000	92,000
Total current assets	32,225,000	6,007,000
Notes receivable from Bairnco	4,627,000	4,627,000
Investment in associated company	1,661,000	33,983,000
Deferred income tax assets	84,109,000	64,088,000
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries, net	266,399,000	278,730,000
Total assets	389,021,000	387,435,000
Current Liabilities:
Trade payables	0	61,000
Accrued liabilities	380,000	718,000
Total current liabilities	380,000	779,000
Accrued interest - Handy & Harman	12,193,000	12,193,000
Notes payable to Handy & Harman	118,728,000	98,188,000
Accrued pension liability	208,331,000	142,403,000
Total liabilities	339,632,000	253,563,000
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock - $.01 par value; authorized 180,000 shares; issued 13,580 and 13,444 shares, respectively	136,000	134,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(235,822,000)	(181,931,000)
Additional paid-in capital	570,256,000	565,441,000
Treasury stock, at cost - 2,800 and 458 shares, respectively	(70,375,000)	(9,796,000)
Accumulated deficit	(214,806,000)	(239,976,000)
Total stockholders' equity	49,389,000	133,872,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 389,021,000	$ 387,435,000