QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)
Net sales	$ 714,791	$ 691,875	$ 727,432	$ 718,573	$ 684,648	$ 697,552	$ 744,045	$ 727,122	$ 2,852,671	$ 2,853,367	$ 2,694,609
Gross profit	243,047	232,697	240,338	226,572	213,032	213,362	224,997	215,265	942,654	866,656	736,737
Income before income taxes	121,388	97,840	106,534	90,679	87,605	90,889	98,157	92,919	416,441	369,570	301,331
Net income	88,324	66,044	72,606	66,806	62,084	64,765	66,319	64,243	293,780	257,411	217,186
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.09	$ 0.81	$ 0.88	$ 0.81	$ 0.75	$ 0.78	$ 0.80	$ 0.77	$ 3.58	$ 3.10	$ 2.60
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 0.80	$ 0.87	$ 0.80	$ 0.74	$ 0.77	$ 0.79	$ 0.76	$ 3.54	$ 3.06	$ 2.56
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains (charges)	(259)	(1,627)	(851)	(1,051)	(5,037)	(3,059)	(1,258)		(8,463)	(9,354)	(282)
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains (charges), after-tax	(223)	(1,595)	(579)	(673)	(3,823)	(2,704)	(915)
Special items charge (Gain)									21,366	10,735	282
Asia Pacific Welding
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)
Net sales									266,282	324,482	376,276
Special items charge (Gain)									6,071	4,993	(110)
Other Asset Impairment Charges		4,675							4,444
Other Asset Impairment Charges Net of Tax		4,503
Land Sales	(705)								(705)
Noncontrolling Interests
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)
Other Asset Impairment Charges		1,021
Land Sales	(47)
North America Welding
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)
Net sales									1,652,769	1,580,818	1,309,499
Special items charge (Gain)									1,052	827	0
South America Welding
Quarterly financial data (unaudited)
Net sales									195,895	161,483	156,684
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains (charges)							(1,381)
Rationalization and asset impairment net gains (charges), after-tax							(906)
Special items charge (Gain)			$ 2,538	$ 9,660					$ 12,198	$ 1,381	$ 0