Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 34,817	$ 2,093
Depreciation and amortization	3,442	3,953
Deferred income taxes	7,168	4,251
Equity in net income of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	(45,390)	(22,337)
Distributions from Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	27,295
Benefit plan expense greater (less) than cash funding:
Defined benefit pension expense	(126)	391
Other postretirement benefit expense	(282)	129
Litigation settlement expense:
Accrued		32,174
Settlement payments made		(19,012)
Other, net	364	530
Change in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables, net	(3,128)	(4,817)
Inventories, net	(2,329)	(2,098)
Prepaid expenses and other	(1,041)	(625)
Accrued environmental remediation and related costs	6,844	(3,138)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(5,751)	(817)
Income taxes	869	(60)
Accounts with affiliates	(36)	3,200
Other, net	(758)	(768)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	21,958	(6,951)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,328)	(1,211)
Change in restricted cash equivalents	802	4,174
Proceeds from disposal of marketable securities	116
Purchase of marketable securities	(242)
Other, net	100
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(552)	2,963
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash dividends paid	(12,165)	(12,157)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiary	(406)	(404)
Proceeds from issuance of stock:
NL common stock	342	68
CompX common stock	139
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	32
Repurchase of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary		(6,988)
Indebtedness:
Borrowings	4,600	7,800
Repayments	(22,400)
Deferred financing costs paid		(28)
Net cash used in financing activities	(29,858)	(11,709)
Cash and cash equivalents - net change from:
Operating, investing and financing activities	(8,452)	(15,697)
Currency translation	(5)	86
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	15,461	24,555
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	7,004	8,944
Supplemental disclosures:
Interest	1,667	185
Income taxes, net	(247)	(2,077)
Non-cash investing activity - accrual for capital expenditures	146	58
Non-cash financing activity - promissory note payable incurred in connection with litigation settlement		$ 18,000