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Note 4 - Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Note 4 - Debt (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 02, 2016	Jul. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Availability Dollar Amount [Member]
Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Monetary			$ 30,000
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			0.00%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			1.25%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			0.25%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate			3.00%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due June 30, 2019 [Member] \| A B L Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity			$ 365,000
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity			$ 365,000
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Percentage of Revolver Commitments			10.00%
Balance Required for Compliance with Revolver Commitments			$ 36,500
A B L Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms EBITDA Ratio			1
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity			$ 86,100
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal	$ 865
Amortized Banking Fees [Member]
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current			$ 2,200
Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member] \| Chicago Tube and Iron Company Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Liabilities Incurred		$ 5,900
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage			1.10%
Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member]
Effectof Swap Interest Rate Agreement			3.46%
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current			$ 6,225	$ 7,820