Segment Data (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated net sales	$ 47,150,000	$ 61,360,000	$ 67,866,000	$ 74,614,000	$ 62,168,000	$ 67,299,000	$ 63,318,000	$ 59,811,000	$ 250,990,000		$ 252,596,000		$ 189,423,000
Consolidated operating income	1,752,000	4,652,000	7,307,000	9,692,000	7,013,000	7,231,000	8,475,000	6,968,000	23,403,000		29,687,000		20,423,000
Consolidated interest expense and other financing costs									2,592,000		1,421,000		452,000
Consolidated other income, net									140,000		212,000		92,000
Consolidated depreciation and amortization									12,319,000	[1]	7,118,000	[1]	5,469,000	[1]
Consolidated capital expenditures									35,057,000	[2]	24,480,000	[2]	7,481,000	[2]
Universal Stainless & Alloy Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated net sales									212,902,000		225,333,000		173,294,000
Consolidated operating income									11,548,000		20,176,000		17,311,000
Consolidated interest expense and other financing costs									2,592,000	[3]	1,406,000	[3]	412,000	[3]
Consolidated other income, net									89,000		68,000		40,000
Consolidated depreciation and amortization									10,650,000	[1]	5,738,000	[1]	4,210,000	[1]
Consolidated capital expenditures									32,007,000	[2]	22,455,000	[2]	6,831,000	[2]
Dunkirk Specialty Steel
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated net sales									100,056,000		97,378,000		56,600,000
Consolidated operating income									9,384,000		10,277,000		4,296,000
Consolidated interest expense and other financing costs											15,000		40,000
Consolidated other income, net									51,000	[4]	144,000	[4]	52,000	[4]
Consolidated depreciation and amortization									1,389,000	[1]	1,274,000	[1]	1,162,000	[1]
Consolidated capital expenditures									2,722,000	[2]	1,829,000	[2]	425,000	[2]
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated depreciation and amortization									280,000	[1]	106,000	[1]	97,000	[1]
Consolidated capital expenditures									328,000	[2]	196,000	[2]	225,000	[2]
Intersegment Elimination
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated net sales									(61,968,000)		(70,115,000)		(40,471,000)
Consolidated operating income									$ 2,471,000		$ (766,000)		$ (1,184,000)

[1] These amounts include depreciation on property, plant and equipment and amortization on the non-compete agreement.

[2] These amounts include capital expenditures included in current liabilities of $828,000, $7.7 million and $578,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

[3] Includes amortization of deferred financing costs of $308,000, $153,000 and $17,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

[4] Includes net receipt of import duties of $13,000, $115,000 and $32,000 for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.