RATIONALIZATION AND ASSET IMPAIRMENTS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended							3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended							3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009 employee operation	Dec. 31, 2009 North America Welding	Dec. 31, 2011 Europe Welding	Dec. 31, 2010 Europe Welding	Dec. 31, 2009 Europe Welding employee	Dec. 31, 2010 Asia Pacific Welding	Dec. 31, 2011 Asia Pacific Welding	Dec. 31, 2010 Asia Pacific Welding	Dec. 31, 2009 Asia Pacific Welding employee	Dec. 31, 2009 South America Welding employee	Dec. 31, 2011 The Harris Products Group	Dec. 31, 2010 The Harris Products Group	Dec. 31, 2009 The Harris Products Group	Mar. 31, 2011 Europe Welding and Asia Pacific Welding	Jun. 30, 2010 Europe Welding and Asia Pacific Welding	Mar. 31, 2010 Europe Welding and Asia Pacific Welding	Dec. 31, 2011 Europe Welding and Asia Pacific Welding
Rationalization and Asset Impairments
Rationalization and asset impairment charges (gains)	$ (75,000)			$ 282,000	$ (384,000)	$ 29,897,000	$ 10,386,000	$ 188,000	$ 1,990,000	$ 9,615,000		$ 93,000	$ 427,000	$ 1,692,000	$ 528,000			$ 4,736,000	$ 357,000	$ (3,629,000)	$ 801,000
Special items, gain (loss) on the sale of assets at a rationalized operation					4,555,000			(204,000)		5,667,000		203,000	4,555,000
Employee severance and other related costs				259,000	2,417,000	27,142,000
Environmental costs associated with the sale of property					871,000												871,000
Asset impairment charges			496,000	23,000	883,000	2,061,000		22,000	496,000	253,000	387,000		387,000	1,515,000				293,000
Gain recognized in connection with the partial settlement of a pension plan						185,000								(2,144,000)
Number of employees affected due to rationalization activities						1,063				81				193	9
Number of manufacturing operations closed						2
Impairment charges on certain indefinite-lived intangible assets						879,000				134,000								745,000
Charges associated with the continuation of the consolidation of certain manufacturing operations		(1,788,000)	227,000	282,000
Charges associated with the continuation of the consolidation of certain manufacturing operations								166,000				93,000
Activity related to the rationalization liabilities by segment
Balance at the beginning of the period				1,431,000	6,357,000			411,000	3,081,000			90,000	831,000			930,000	2,445,000					173,000
Payments and other adjustments				(1,435,000)	(7,343,000)			(404,000)	(4,660,000)			(183,000)	(1,168,000)			(848,000)	(1,515,000)
Charged to expense				259,000	2,417,000			166,000	1,990,000			93,000	427,000
Balance at the end of the period		$ 1,431,000		$ 255,000	$ 1,431,000	$ 6,357,000		$ 173,000	$ 411,000	$ 3,081,000	$ 90,000		$ 90,000	$ 831,000		$ 82,000	$ 930,000	$ 2,445,000				$ 173,000