Note 12 - Other Financial Data - Balance Sheet Information (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 28, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Accounts receivable, net:
Accounts receivable	$ 44,643,000	$ 52,099,000
Less allowance for doubtful accounts	(618,000)	(888,000)
Total	44,025,000	51,211,000
Inventories:
Raw materials	42,471,000	49,200,000
Work in process	3,324,000	3,789,000
Finished goods	37,644,000	28,910,000
Total	83,439,000	81,899,000
Other current assets:
Income tax receivable	1,612,000	760,000
Current deferred tax asset	1,342,000	2,122,000
Prepaid insurance	1,141,000	1,890,000
Other	792,000	1,661,000
Total	4,887,000	6,433,000
Other assets:
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies	7,306,000	6,867,000
Assets held for sale	2,655,000	0
Capitalized financing costs, net	18,000	69,000
Other	97,000	99,000
Total	10,076,000	7,035,000
Property, plant and equipment, net:
Land and land improvements	9,214,000	9,704,000
Buildings	42,608,000	42,047,000
Machinery and equipment	136,430,000	133,699,000
Construction in progress	6,331,000	7,648,000
	194,583	193,098
Less accumulated depreciation	(107,419,000)	(102,712,000)
Total	87,164,000	90,386,000
Accrued expenses:
Salaries, wages and related expenses	2,661,000	4,659,000
Customer rebates	862,000	1,530,000
Pension plan	725,000	825,000
Restructuring liabilities	564,000	481,000
Property taxes	509,000	1,242,000
Deferred revenues	287,000	525,000
Workers' compensation	284,000	290,000
Interest	37,000	28,000
Other	798,000	795,000
Total	6,727,000	10,375,000
Other liabilities:
Deferred compensation	7,644,000	7,426,000
Deferred income taxes	6,620,000	6,572,000
Other	661,000	728,000
Total	$ 14,925,000	$ 14,726,000