SEGMENT INFORMATION (Financial Information of Reportable Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	$ 684,648	$ 697,552	$ 744,045	$ 727,122	$ 694,513	$ 701,624	$ 699,293	$ 599,179	$ 2,853,367	$ 2,694,609	$ 2,070,172
Inter-segment sales									0	0	0
Total									2,853,367	2,694,609	2,070,172
EBIT, as adjusted									380,508	305,196	194,157
Special items charge (Gain)									10,735	282	2,739
EBIT									369,773	304,914	191,418
Interest income									3,988	3,121	2,381
Interest expense									(4,191)	(6,704)	(6,691)
Income before income taxes	87,605	90,889	98,157	92,919	83,427	75,873	81,494	60,537	369,570	301,331	187,108
Total assets	2,089,863				1,976,776				2,089,863	1,976,776	1,783,788
Equity investments in affiliates	24,606				24,618				24,606	24,618	22,909
Capital expenditures									52,715	65,813	60,565
Depreciation and amortization									65,334	62,051	57,357
North America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									1,580,818	1,309,499	1,013,193
Inter-segment sales									131,062	136,314	108,849
Total									1,711,880	1,445,813	1,122,042
EBIT, as adjusted									293,070	227,924	162,192
Special items charge (Gain)									827	0	0
EBIT									292,243	227,924	162,192
Total assets	980,093				771,315				980,093	771,315	611,725
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									36,834	31,826	25,746
Depreciation and amortization									33,479	29,237	27,652
Europe Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									452,227	508,692	359,925
Inter-segment sales									16,048	17,422	13,330
Total									468,275	526,114	373,255
EBIT, as adjusted									37,299	36,171	17,023
Special items charge (Gain)									3,534	392	2,486
EBIT									33,765	35,779	14,537
Total assets	451,654				436,327				451,654	436,327	413,789
Equity investments in affiliates	21,798				20,500				21,798	20,500	19,194
Capital expenditures									5,372	8,566	10,373
Depreciation and amortization									11,008	11,736	9,527
Asia Pacific Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									324,482	376,276	324,092
Inter-segment sales									14,829	15,614	12,546
Total									339,311	391,890	336,638
EBIT, as adjusted									7,247	2,629	1,752
Special items charge (Gain)									4,993	(110)	(3,741)
EBIT									2,254	2,739	5,493
Total assets	350,189				380,282				350,189	380,282	350,975
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									8,833	21,498	22,973
Depreciation and amortization									15,102	14,663	13,542
South America Welding
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									161,483	156,684	117,419
Inter-segment sales									38	494	1,216
Total									161,521	157,178	118,635
EBIT, as adjusted									18,301	12,895	7,554
Special items charge (Gain)									1,381	0	3,123
EBIT									16,920	12,895	4,431
Total assets	134,650				110,781				134,650	110,781	94,836
Equity investments in affiliates	2,808				4,118				2,808	4,118	3,715
Capital expenditures									899	2,314	3,573
Depreciation and amortization									1,878	2,033	1,564
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									334,357	343,458	255,543
Inter-segment sales									8,549	8,496	6,641
Total									342,906	351,954	262,184
EBIT, as adjusted									29,477	25,151	12,311
Special items charge (Gain)									0	0	871
EBIT									29,477	25,151	11,440
Total assets	195,881				181,916				195,881	181,916	193,474
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									831	1,792	884
Depreciation and amortization									3,934	4,714	5,012
Corporate / Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									0	0	0
Inter-segment sales									(170,526)	(178,340)	(142,582)
Total									(170,526)	(178,340)	(142,582)
EBIT, as adjusted									(4,886)	426	(6,675)
Special items charge (Gain)									0	0	0
EBIT									(4,886)	426	(6,675)
Total assets	(22,604)				96,155				(22,604)	96,155	118,989
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									(54)	(183)	(2,984)
Depreciation and amortization									$ (67)	$ (332)	$ 60