Operating Results of Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating costs	$ 12,935	$ 12,651	$ 34,477	$ 37,216
Other income (expense)	3,032	(3,023)	5,894	(7,404)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	1,084	(5,866)	905	(10,462)
Income tax expense (benefit)	317	(7)	527	86
Net earnings (loss)	767	(5,859)	378	(10,548)
Current assets	63,204		63,204		66,357
Total assets	85,901		85,901		90,123
Current liabilities	11,726		11,726		10,686
Total liabilities	34,405		34,405		40,205
Continuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	10,987	9,781	29,449	34,254
Operating costs	12,739	12,278	33,528	35,905
Other income (expense)	2,408	(3,295)	3,053	(8,343)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	656	(5,792)	(1,026)	(9,994)
Income tax expense (benefit)	317	(7)	527	86
Net earnings (loss)	339	(5,785)	(1,553)	(10,080)
Current assets	63,088		63,088		66,134
Total assets	85,785		85,785		89,900
Current liabilities	11,528		11,528		8,422
Total liabilities	28,457		28,457		31,441
Continuing Operations | Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	(141)	(174)	(355)	(817)
Operating costs	(141)	(174)	(355)	(817)
Total assets	(14,153)		(14,153)		(7,172)
Total liabilities	(14,153)		(14,153)		(7,172)
Continuing Operations | Industrial Supply | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating costs	8,878	8,492	24,271	23,371
Other income (expense)	(8)		(8)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	2,061	1,738	5,046	4,683
Income tax expense (benefit)	961	828	2,369	1,978
Net earnings (loss)	1,100	910	2,677	2,705
Current assets	17,252		17,252		14,530
Total assets	37,697		37,697		35,507
Current liabilities	7,746		7,746		6,381
Total liabilities	19,627		19,627		20,110
Continuing Operations | Special Situations | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	89	174	254	501
Operating costs	1	4	8	411
Other income (expense)		(14)		(14)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	128	(297)	370	6,241
Income tax expense (benefit)	61	(214)	109	2,284
Net earnings (loss)	67	(83)	261	3,957
Current assets	134		134		1,904
Total assets	5,718		5,718		7,200
Current liabilities					60
Total liabilities	3,657		3,657		3,955
Continuing Operations | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	52		101	316
Operating costs	4,001	3,956	9,604	12,940
Other income (expense)	2,416	(3,281)	3,061	(8,329)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(1,533)	(7,233)	(6,442)	(20,918)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(705)	(621)	(1,951)	(4,176)
Net earnings (loss)	(828)	(6,612)	(4,491)	(16,742)
Current assets	45,702		45,702		49,700
Total assets	56,523		56,523		54,365
Current liabilities	3,782		3,782		1,981
Total liabilities	19,326		19,326		14,548
Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	624	299	2,880	843
Operating costs	196	373	949	1,311
Other income (expense)	624	272	2,841	939
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	428	(74)	1,931	(468)
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	428	(74)	1,931	(468)
Current assets	116		116		223
Total assets	116		116		223
Current liabilities	198		198		2,264
Total liabilities	5,948		5,948		8,764
External Customer
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	10,987	9,808	29,488	34,158
External Customer | Continuing Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	10,987	9,781	29,449	34,254
External Customer | Continuing Operations | Industrial Supply | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	10,947	10,230	29,325	28,054
External Customer | Continuing Operations | Special Situations | Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	40	(453)	124	6,165
External Customer | Continuing Operations | Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues		4		35
External Customer | Discontinued Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues		$ 27	$ 39	$ (96)