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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Equity Investments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
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Minimum |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Ownership interest in equity investments (as a percent) | 20.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MinimumMember |
Maximum |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Ownership interest in equity investments (as a percent) | 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage / us-gaap_RangeAxis = us-gaap_MaximumMember |
Investments in Turkey and Chile |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Amount of retained earnings that represents undistributed earnings of 50% or less owned equity investments | $ 18,542 us-gaap_RetainedEarningsUndistributedEarningsFromEquityMethodInvestees / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = leco_InvestmentsInTurkeyAndChileMember | $ 16,694 us-gaap_RetainedEarningsUndistributedEarningsFromEquityMethodInvestees / us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis = leco_InvestmentsInTurkeyAndChileMember

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- Definition The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
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- Definition Amount of consolidated retained earnings that represent undistributed (not yet received) earnings from 50% or less owned persons accounted for by the equity method (equity method investees). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 852 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6462270&loc=d3e57205-112772 + Details
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