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Note 5 - Debt (Details Textual) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
Note 5 - Debt (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	Mar. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2011 USD ($)
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current		$ 5,698	$ 8,333
Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member]
Repayments of Long-term Debt, Total	$ 900
Industrial Revenue Bonds [Member] \| Chicago Tube and Iron Company Acquisition [Member]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Long-term Debt				$ 5,900
Amortized Banking Fees [Member]
Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current		$ 1,800
ABL Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument, Term		5 years
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due December 8, 2022 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 370,000
Letters of Credit, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		20,000
Maximum First In, Last Out Revolving Credit Facility		30,000
Line of Credit Facility, Additional Commitments, Maximum		200,000
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity		400,000
Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Monetary		$ 30,000
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Percentage of Revolver Commitments		10.00%
Balance Required for Compliance with Revolver Commitments		$ 40,000
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Percentage of Aggregate Borrowing Base		10.00%
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Aggregate Borrowing Base		$ 40,000
Line of Credit Facility Covenant Terms EBITDA Ratio		1
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity		$ 148,000
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due December 8, 2022 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.00%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due December 8, 2022 [Member] \| ABL 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 December 8, 2022 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		0.25%
Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility Due December 8, 2022 [Member] \| ABL Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate		2.75%