Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)

v3.6.0.2
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Nov. 21, 2014
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
subsidiaries
segments
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Jan. 03, 2015
USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Inventory Adjustments   $ 43,000 $ 1,237,000  
Number of operating segments (segments) | segments   2    
Goodwill impairment   $ 0 17,158,249 $ 0
Intangible asset depreciation period (years) 8 years      
Deferred charges and intangible assets   20,708,000 20,572,000  
Accumulated amortization on deferred charges   8,253,000 5,775,000  
Shipping costs   4,488,000 5,155,000 5,705,000
Research and development expense   603,000 548,000 531,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Amortization Expense, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]        
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months   2,393,000    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two   2,228,000    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three   2,056,000    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four   1,897,000    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five   1,807,000    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, after Year Five   2,074,000    
Amortization expense   2,460,000 2,277,000 1,407,000
Inventory Valuation Reserve [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Charged to (Reduction of) Cost and Expenses   984,000 767,000 3,975,000
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions   700,000 810,000 5,456,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Charged to (Reduction of) Cost and Expenses   (45,000) 104,000 667,000
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Deductions   $ 120,000 972,000 631,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member] | Specialty Pipe And Tube, Inc. [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Charged to (Reduction of) Cost and Expenses       76,000
Minimum [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Accounts receivable, payment terms (days)   30 days    
Intangible asset depreciation period (years)   8 years    
Maximum [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Accounts receivable, payment terms (days)   60 days    
Intangible asset depreciation period (years)   15 years    
Land improvements and buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Depreciation useful life (years)   10 years    
Land improvements and buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Depreciation useful life (years)   40 years    
Machinery, fixtures and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Depreciation useful life (years)   3 years    
Machinery, fixtures and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Depreciation useful life (years)   20 years    
Software licenses [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Depreciation useful life (years)   5 years    
Metals Segment [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Number of subsidiaries (subsidiaries) | subsidiaries   3    
Goodwill impairment   $ 0 17,158,249 $ 0
Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Number of operating segments (segments) | segments   1    
Number of subsidiaries (subsidiaries) | subsidiaries   2    
Goodwill impairment     $ 0  
Bristol Metals, LLC, Palmer of Texas Tanks, Inc., and Specialty Pipe & Tube [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Ownership percentage of subsidiary (percent)   100.00% 100.00%  
Manufacturers Soap and Chemical Company [Member] | Specialty Chemicals Segment [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Ownership percentage of subsidiary (percent)   100.00%    
Subsidiaries [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Inventory Adjustments   $ 93,000    
Deferred Charges [Member] | Minimum [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Intangible asset depreciation period (years)   3 years    
Deferred Charges [Member] | Maximum [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Intangible asset depreciation period (years)   10 years    
Customer Relationships [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Weighted average amortization period (years)   12 years    
Obsolescence reserve [Member] | Inventory Valuation Reserve [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Inventory reserves   $ 697,000 $ 658,000  
Physical inventory shrink reserve [Member] | Inventory Valuation Reserve [Member]        
Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Inventory reserves   $ 269,000 $ 24,000