Note 16 - Income Taxes (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Increase (Decrease), Amount	$ 5,553,000	$ 18,383,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent	21.00%	34.00%	34.00%
Deferred Tax Asset, Increase (Decrease) from Remeasurement Due to Tax Rate Change	$ (20,531,000)
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance, Increase (Decrease) from Remeasurement Due to Tax Rate Change	(20,531,000)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation and Exercise of Stock Options	325,000
Net Operating Loss Carryforward Limitation	764,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Expense, Total	0	$ 0	$ 0
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Ending Balance	325,000
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total	130,700,000
Domestic Tax Authority [Member] | Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	138,000
Domestic Tax Authority [Member] | Liquidmetal Golf, Inc [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total	$ 36,200,000
Domestic Tax Authority [Member] | Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Open Tax Year	2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | California Franchise Tax Board [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Total	$ 90,000,000
Open Tax Year	2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | California Franchise Tax Board [Member] | Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	$ 243,000