Note 5 - Restructuring Charges and Acquisition Costs - Summaries of the Restructuring Activities and Associated Costs Incurred (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Other Restructuring [Member]
Liability	$ 0	$ 0
Restructuring charges (recoveries)	20,000	543,000	$ 0
Cash payments	0	0	0
Non-cash charges	(20,000)	(543,000)
Liability	0	0	0
Equipment Relocation Costs [Member]
Liability	0	0
Restructuring charges (recoveries)	186,000	79,000	0
Cash payments	(155,000)	(79,000)	0
Non-cash charges	0	0
Liability	31,000	0	0
Employee Severance [Member]
Liability	735,000	1,208,000
Restructuring charges (recoveries)	0	75,000	1,247,000
Cash payments	(496,000)	(548,000)	(39,000)
Non-cash charges	0	0
Liability	239,000	735,000	1,208,000
Facility Closing [Member]
Liability	0	0
Restructuring charges (recoveries)	89,000	547,000	0
Cash payments	(89,000)	(547,000)	0
Non-cash charges	0	0
Liability	0	0	0
Gain on Sale of Property and Equipment [Member]
Liability	0	0
Restructuring charges (recoveries)			0
Restructuring charges (recoveries)	(180,000)	(895,000)
Cash payments	0	0	0
Non-cash charges	180,000	895,000
Liability	0	0	0
Liability	735,000	1,208,000
Restructuring charges (recoveries)	115,000	349,000	1,247,000
Cash payments	(740,000)	(1,174,000)	(39,000)
Non-cash charges	160,000	352,000
Liability	$ 270,000	$ 735,000	$ 1,208,000