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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GktxRmiOTjAhm8hS0N/4dm0OuKOkuKFRl5PdWeNZ5Dhd6w5WXSsqPIdk8jOr7Epu
 8vzAZ7wv6pU9e+w6/kEJZw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001180028-03-000003.txt : 20031114
<SEC-HEADER>0001180028-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20031114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031114163011
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001180028-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MATERA RALPH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180028

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19687
		FILM NUMBER:		031005113

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 1589
		CITY:			BRISTOL
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37621
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8642347446

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYNALLOY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000095953
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STEEL PIPE & TUBES [3317]
		IRS NUMBER:				570426694
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1230

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CROFT INDUSTRIAL PARK
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 5627
		CITY:			SPARTANBURG
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		864-585-3605

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 5627
		CITY:			SPARTANBURG
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29304

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BLACKMAN UHLER INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710510
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-12</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000095953</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYNALLOY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>synl</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180028</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MATERA RALPH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 1589</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRISTOL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37621</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.21</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-11-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-11-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>197000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options vest in five equal installments of 20% betginning one year from date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Cheryl C. Carter, Power of Attorney for Ralph Matera</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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