SEGMENT INFORMATION (Financial Information of Reportable Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales	$ 563,828	$ 567,646	$ 592,418	$ 550,722	$ 567,985	$ 645,166	$ 664,740	$ 657,900	$ 2,274,614	$ 2,535,791	$ 2,813,324
Revenue from Related Parties									0	0	0
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									2,274,614	2,535,791	2,813,324
EBIT, as adjusted									328,723	378,807	434,340
Special items charge (Gain)									34,348	189,910	51,186
EBIT									294,375	188,897	383,154
Interest income									2,092	2,714	3,093
Interest expense									(19,079)	(21,824)	(10,434)
Income before income taxes	78,152	$ 80,296	$ 45,758	$ 73,182	71,172	(88,526)	$ 94,434	$ 92,707	277,388	169,787	375,813
Total assets	1,943,437				1,784,171				1,943,437	1,784,171	1,939,215
Equity investments in affiliates	27,301				27,241				27,301	27,241	27,481
Capital expenditures									49,877	50,507	72,990
Depreciation and amortization									65,073	64,007	69,607
The Harris Products Group
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									272,343	263,981	294,230
Revenue from Related Parties									8,709	9,312	8,210
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									281,052	273,293	302,440
EBIT, as adjusted									32,380	27,882	28,563
Special items charge (Gain)									0	0	0
EBIT									32,380	27,882	28,563
Total assets	161,391				143,905				161,391	143,905	147,990
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									2,209	2,727	825
Depreciation and amortization									2,860	2,978	3,512
Corporate / Eliminations
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									0	0	0
Revenue from Related Parties									(118,296)	(120,597)	(140,342)
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									(118,296)	(120,597)	(140,342)
EBIT, as adjusted									564	(275)	3,802
Special items charge (Gain)									34,348	0	0
EBIT									(33,784)	(275)	3,802
Total assets	(25,594)				(68,805)				(25,594)	(68,805)	(86,927)
Equity investments in affiliates	0				0				0	0	0
Capital expenditures									0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									(209)	(194)	(239)
Americas Welding [Member]
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									1,494,982	1,741,350	1,837,670
Revenue from Related Parties									93,612	92,538	110,524
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									1,588,594	1,833,888	1,948,194
EBIT, as adjusted									266,633	316,689	353,255
Special items charge (Gain)						$ 26,506			0	173,239	21,647
EBIT									266,633	143,450	331,608
Total assets	1,278,417				1,165,817				1,278,417	1,165,817	1,214,988
Equity investments in affiliates	3,946				3,791				3,946	3,791	3,579
Capital expenditures									35,314	35,721	62,066
Depreciation and amortization									47,359	45,447	44,710
International Welding [Member]
Financial information for the reportable segments
Net sales									507,289	530,460	681,424
Revenue from Related Parties									15,975	18,747	21,608
Segment, including Inter-segment, sales									523,264	549,207	703,032
EBIT, as adjusted									29,146	34,511	48,720
Special items charge (Gain)									0	16,671	29,539
EBIT									29,146	17,840	19,181
Total assets	529,223				543,254				529,223	543,254	663,164
Equity investments in affiliates	$ 23,355				$ 23,450				23,355	23,450	23,902
Capital expenditures									12,354	12,059	10,099
Depreciation and amortization									$ 15,063	$ 15,776	$ 21,624