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RETIREMENT ANNUITY AND GUARANTEED CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT PLANS (Textual) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
hours
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
After-tax amounts included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss      
Unrecognized actuarial net loss $ 199,786us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetGainsLossesAfterTax    
Unrecognized prior service credits (1,931)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetPriorServiceCostCreditAfterTax    
Unrecognized transition obligations 38us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeNetTransitionAssetsObligationsAfterTax    
Pre-tax amounts expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost during next fiscal year      
Unrecognized actuarial net loss 22,657us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfGainLoss    
Unrecognized prior service credits (625)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFutureAmortizationOfPriorServiceCostCredit    
Unrecognized transition obligations 3us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAmortizationOfNetTransitionAssetObligation    
Total accumulated benefit obligation for all plans 1,003,296us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation 891,397us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAccumulatedBenefitObligation  
Contributions to Plans      
Expected contribution to the plans during the next fiscal year 21,000us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansEstimatedFutureEmployerContributionsInNextFiscalYear    
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan      
Total net pension costs 12,395us-gaap_PensionExpense 29,908us-gaap_PensionExpense 36,258us-gaap_PensionExpense
Projected benefit obligation 1,045,471us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation 941,442us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation 1,033,725us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
Multi-Employer Plans      
Annual pension costs of multi-employer plans for operations in Europe 1,068us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions 1,048us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions 942us-gaap_MultiemployerPlanPeriodContributions
Other Benefits      
Minimum percentage of every standard work week for which, the Company will provide work to employees in Cleveland, Ohio, area operations, covered under the guaranteed continuous employment plan (as a percent) 75.00%leco_GuaranteedContinuousEmploymentPlanMinimumPercentageOfEveryStandardWorkWeekForWhichCompanyWillProvideWorkToEmployees    
Hours in a standard work week under Guaranteed Continuous Employment Plan (hours) 40leco_GuaranteedContinuousEmploymentPlanStandardHoursInWorkWeek    
Minimum notice period for the termination of Guaranteed Continuous Employment Plan (in months) 6 months    
Supplemental executive retirement plan (SERP)      
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan      
Total net pension costs 3,012us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember
2,329us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember
2,254us-gaap_PensionExpense
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember
Projected benefit obligation $ 17,953us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember
$ 22,877us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember
$ 25,646us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= us-gaap_SupplementalEmployeeRetirementPlanDefinedBenefitMember
Equity Securities      
Target allocation for pension plan assets      
Target plan asset allocations range minimum 45.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
   
Target plan asset allocations range maximum 55.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
   
Debt Securities      
Target allocation for pension plan assets      
Target plan asset allocations range minimum 45.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMinimum
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
   
Target plan asset allocations range maximum 55.00%us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTargetPlanAssetAllocationsRangeMaximum
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember