Summary of Financial Information by Reportable Segment and Product Line (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 493,292	$ 654,758	$ 641,303
Operating profit (loss)	24,181	47,516	50,206
Depreciation and amortization	20,720	20,217	20,405
Capital Expenditure	12,053	14,923	11,021
Assets	824,294	1,124,274
Assets of Continuing Operations	824,294	838,696
Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	341,470	433,703	439,405
Service & Rental [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	113,393	175,812	151,680
Industrial Tools & Services [Member] [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	454,863	609,515	591,085
Operating profit (loss)	65,549	101,411	99,432
Depreciation and amortization	14,854	14,762	15,301
Capital Expenditure	7,282	9,945	7,799
Assets	592,086	553,615
Other Operating Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	38,429	45,243	50,218
Operating profit (loss)	(3,420)	(11,821)	(5,690)
Depreciation and amortization	3,620	3,408	3,122
Capital Expenditure	2,625	3,917	1,295
Assets	61,105	54,484
General Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)	(37,948)	(42,076)	(43,536)
Depreciation and amortization	2,246	2,047	1,982
Capital Expenditure	2,146	1,061	$ 1,927
Assets	$ 171,103	$ 230,597