SEGMENT INFORMATION (Financial Information of Reportable Segments) (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
Financial information for the reportable segments
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
Revenue from Related Parties									0	0	0
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									2,852,671	2,853,367	2,694,609
EBIT, as adjusted									437,351	380,508	305,196
Special items charge (Gain)									21,366	10,735	282
EBIT									415,985	369,773	304,914
Interest income									3,320	3,988	3,121
Interest expense									(2,864)	(4,191)	(6,704)
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
Total assets	2,151,867				2,089,863				2,151,867	2,089,863	1,976,776
Equity investments in affiliates	26,618				24,606				26,618	24,606	24,618
Capital expenditures									76,015	52,715	65,813
Depreciation and amortization									68,883	65,334	62,051
North America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									1,652,769	1,580,818	1,309,499
Revenue from Related Parties									127,254	131,062	136,314
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									1,780,023	1,711,880	1,445,813
EBIT, as adjusted									318,507	293,070	227,924
Special items charge (Gain)									1,052	827	0
EBIT									317,455	292,243	227,924
Total assets	1,048,412				980,093				1,048,412	980,093	771,315
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									41,181	36,834	31,826
Depreciation and amortization									39,086	33,479	29,237
Europe Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									429,548	452,227	508,692
Revenue from Related Parties									19,911	16,048	17,422
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									449,459	468,275	526,114
EBIT, as adjusted									36,247	37,299	36,171
Special items charge (Gain)									2,045	3,534	392
EBIT									34,202	33,765	35,779
Total assets	403,094				451,654				403,094	451,654	436,327
Equity investments in affiliates	23,315				21,798				23,315	21,798	20,500
Capital expenditures									10,305	5,372	8,566
Depreciation and amortization									10,933	11,008	11,736
Asia Pacific Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									266,282	324,482	376,276
Revenue from Related Parties									14,906	14,829	15,614
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									281,188	339,311	391,890
EBIT, as adjusted									1,815	7,247	2,629
Special items charge (Gain)									6,071	4,993	(110)
EBIT									(4,256)	2,254	2,739
Total assets	325,656				350,189				325,656	350,189	380,282
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									2,073	8,833	21,498
Depreciation and amortization									13,559	15,102	14,663
South America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									195,895	161,483	156,684
Revenue from Related Parties									233	38	494
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									196,128	161,521	157,178
EBIT, as adjusted									57,306	18,301	12,895
Special items charge (Gain)			2,538	9,660					12,198	1,381	0
EBIT									45,108	16,920	12,895
Total assets	169,027				134,650				169,027	134,650	110,781
Equity investments in affiliates	3,303				2,808				3,303	2,808	4,118
Capital expenditures									20,840	899	2,314
Depreciation and amortization									1,893	1,878	2,033
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									308,177	334,357	343,458
Revenue from Related Parties									9,605	8,549	8,496
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									317,782	342,906	351,954
EBIT, as adjusted									27,826	29,477	25,151
Special items charge (Gain)									0	0	0
EBIT									27,826	29,477	25,151
Total assets	162,496				195,881				162,496	195,881	181,916
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									3,931	831	1,792
Depreciation and amortization									3,636	3,934	4,714
Corporate / Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									0	0	0
Revenue from Related Parties									(171,909)	(170,526)	(178,340)
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									(171,909)	(170,526)	(178,340)
EBIT, as adjusted									(4,350)	(4,886)	426
Special items charge (Gain)									0	0	0
EBIT									(4,350)	(4,886)	426
Total assets	43,182				(22,604)				43,182	(22,604)	96,155
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									(2,315)	(54)	(183)
Depreciation and amortization									$ (224)	$ (67)	$ (332)