Restructuring Charges (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	$ 3,694	$ 5,637	$ 6,273
Restructuring charges	11,995	7,228	14,571
Restructuring Charges, including recorded in Cost of Product Sold	12,844
Restructuring costs recorded in cost of products sold	900
Restructuring Reserve, Cash Payments	(10,384)	(7,509)
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash	(4,150)	(527)
Restructuring Reserve, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(253)	172
Industrial Tools & Services [Member] [Domain]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	1,687	1,499	1,626
Restructuring charges	4,286	2,652
Restructuring Reserve, Cash Payments	(3,375)	(2,568)
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash	(635)	(198)
Restructuring Reserve, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(88)	(13)
Engineered Components & Systems [Member] [Domain]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	1,592	4,108	4,601
Restructuring charges	3,713	4,465
Restructuring Reserve, Cash Payments	(4,652)	(4,858)
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash	(1,412)	(285)
Restructuring Reserve, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	(165)	185
Corporate Segment [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve	415	30	$ 46
Restructuring charges	4,845	111
Restructuring Reserve, Cash Payments	(2,357)	(83)
Restructuring Reserve, Settled without Cash	(2,103)	(44)
Restructuring Reserve, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss)	$ 0	$ 0