Note 15 - Segment Reporting Information by Capital Expenditures (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Specialty Metal Flat Products [Member]
Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures	$ 4,295,000	$ 4,540,000	$ 3,794,000
Goodwill
Goodwill	500,000	500,000
Assets
Assets	329,885,000	496,253,000
Tubular And Pipe Products [Member]
Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures	$ 3,022,000	3,273,000	11,616,000
Goodwill
Goodwill		16,451,000	40,287,000
Assets
Assets	$ 183,129,000	203,937,000
Corporate Segment [Member]
Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures		21,000	688,000
Assets
Assets	456,000	558,000
Capital expenditures	$ 7,317,000	7,834,000	16,098,000
Goodwill		16,951,000	$ 40,787,000
Assets	$ 513,470,000	$ 700,748,000