Buy Pipe Maintenance & Repair Online in Australia
Pipe maintenance and repair at AIMS Industrial centres on petrolatum-based pipe wrap tape systems — the corrosion-protection tape and mechanical overwrap tape used on buried and exposed steel pipework, fittings, flanges and valves — alongside the plumbers soap, isolation tags and degreasers that support a repair or maintenance job from surface prep through to sign-off. AIMS Industrial stocks the Dixon Petro tape range and CRC maintenance consumables for trade and industrial use across Australia.
Quick Reference
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Core product | Dixon Petro petrolatum tape and overwrap tape (two-part corrosion-protection wrap system) |
| Petrolatum tape widths | 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm |
| Overwrap tape widths | 50mm, 100mm, 150mm |
| Also stocked | Plumbers soap bar, maintenance/isolation record tags, CRC degreaser and general lubricant |
| Brands | Dixon, CRC |
| Primary use | Corrosion protection for buried and exposed steel pipe, fittings, flanges and valves |
| Typical industries | Water and gas reticulation, mining, industrial and process pipework maintenance |
What's in the AIMS pipe maintenance and repair range
- Dixon Petro Petrolatum Tape — a petrolatum-impregnated tape wrapped directly onto steel pipe, fittings, flanges and valves to provide long-term corrosion protection on buried and exposed installations. Stocked in 50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 150mm widths.
- Dixon Petro Overwrap Tape — the mechanical protective layer applied over petrolatum tape, guarding the softer petrolatum layer against abrasion, impact and UV exposure. Stocked in 50mm, 100mm and 150mm widths.
- Dixon Plumbers Soap Bar — a traditional trade soap bar used to lubricate pipe and fitting insertion and, dissolved in water, for the classic soap-and-water bubble test on pressurised joints.
- Dixon Maintenance Record Tag — a danger/caution/out-of-service tag for identifying isolation points on plant and pipework during repair, maintenance and inspection work.
- CRC Lectra Clean degreaser — a TCE-free electric motor and equipment cleaner used to strip grease, oil and grime from a pipe or fitting surface before tape, sealant or paint is applied.
- CRC general-purpose lubricant — a penetrating lubricant for chains, bearings, slides and other moving parts encountered on the wider maintenance job.
Petrolatum tape and overwrap tape — how the two-part system works
Petrolatum tape and overwrap tape are designed to be used together, not as substitutes for each other. The petrolatum tape goes on first, wrapped directly against the cleaned pipe, fitting, flange or valve surface — the petrolatum-impregnated fabric conforms to threads, bolt heads and irregular profiles and excludes moisture and oxygen from the steel underneath. Because it never chemically cures, it stays workable and can be cut back for future inspection. On its own, though, the petrolatum layer is soft and easily damaged by handling, backfill or foot traffic, which is where the overwrap tape comes in — a tougher outer wrap applied over the top to protect the petrolatum layer mechanically and give it a stable, weather and UV-resistant finish. Skipping the overwrap on an exposed or serviced pipe run is one of the more common reasons a petrolatum wrap job fails early.
Choosing the right tape width
Tape width should give enough overlap to fully cover the pipe, fitting or valve body without excessive waste. As a general rule, smaller-diameter straight pipe runs are wrapped with narrower tape (50mm–75mm) applied in a tight spiral with 50% overlap, while larger pipe, flanges, valve bodies and irregular fittings usually call for wider tape (100mm–150mm) to keep the number of wraps — and the number of potential gaps — down. Use the same width tape and overwrap together so the outer layer tracks the inner wrap cleanly. If you're not sure which width suits your pipe diameter or fitting, contact our team with the job details and we'll help you work it out.
Surface preparation and application
Most petrolatum tape failures trace back to what happened — or didn't happen — before the tape went on. Loose scale, old coating and heavy contamination should be removed and the surface degreased (CRC Lectra Clean is suited to stripping oil and grease film from steel ahead of wrapping); petrolatum tape systems are generally more tolerant of a damp or lightly rusted surface than a fully cured coating, but always check the manufacturer's technical data sheet for the specific surface preparation and application requirements before wrapping a critical joint. Apply the petrolatum tape in a spiral with consistent overlap, working out any trapped air as you go, then follow immediately with the overwrap tape in the same direction so the whole system is sealed before the job is backfilled or put back into service.
Leak testing with plumbers soap
The soap-and-water bubble test remains one of the simplest, most reliable ways to find a leak on a pressurised joint without specialist equipment. Dissolve the Dixon plumbers soap bar in water, brush or spray the solution over the joint, valve or fitting, and watch for bubbles forming — that's your leak location. The same soap solution also lubricates pipe and seal insertion during assembly, so it earns its place in the kit for two different jobs.
Isolation and maintenance tagging
Any pipe repair or maintenance job that involves isolating a line, valve or piece of plant should be tagged for the duration of the work. The Dixon Maintenance Record Tag identifies danger, caution and out-of-service points so anyone else on site knows the pipework is being worked on and shouldn't be reinstated or re-pressurised until the tag is cleared. It's a small item, but it's the difference between a controlled repair and someone re-opening a valve mid-job.
Companion Collections
- Pipe Fittings — fittings, couplings and connectors for the pipework itself
- Pipe Sealants — thread and joint sealants for new and reworked connections
- Thread Sealants — anaerobic and PTFE thread sealing products
- Plumbing Tools — hand tools for pipe and fitting work
- Degreasers — the wider AIMS degreasing range for surface prep and workshop cleaning
Order from AIMS
Working out tape width, quantity or which product suits your pipe repair job? Our team can talk you through the range and get the right gear to site.
- Call us on (02) 9773 0122
- Contact our team
- Request a quote for bulk or trade pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
What is petrolatum tape used for?
Petrolatum tape is a petrolatum-impregnated fabric tape wrapped directly around steel pipe, fittings, flanges and valves to protect the metal from corrosion. It's commonly used on buried and exposed pipework in water, gas, mining and industrial installations, conforming to threads, bolts and irregular shapes while excluding moisture and oxygen from the surface underneath.
Is petrolatum tape the same as Denso tape?
"Denso tape" is a specific brand name that's become a common generic term for petrolatum-based corrosion-protection tape, in the same way some trade terms outlast the original brand. AIMS Industrial stocks the Dixon Petro petrolatum tape and overwrap tape system, which serves the same corrosion-protection purpose — always check the product's own technical data sheet for exact specifications rather than assuming two different brands are interchangeable.
What's the difference between petrolatum tape and overwrap tape?
Petrolatum tape is the inner layer — it goes on first, directly against the cleaned pipe or fitting surface, and provides the actual corrosion protection. Overwrap tape goes on second, over the top of the petrolatum tape, and protects that softer inner layer from abrasion, impact and UV exposure. The two are designed to be used together as a system, not on their own.
What size petrolatum tape do I need?
It depends on the diameter of the pipe or fitting and how much overlap you need to fully cover it. Narrower tape (50mm–75mm) generally suits smaller straight pipe runs, while wider tape (100mm–150mm) covers larger pipe, flanges and valve bodies in fewer wraps. If you're unsure, contact our team with your pipe diameter and we'll help you pick the right width.
Can petrolatum tape be applied to a damp or lightly rusted pipe?
Petrolatum tape systems are generally more forgiving of a damp or lightly rusted surface than a coating that needs to chemically cure, which is part of why they're used in the field rather than only in a workshop. That said, surface preparation requirements vary by product, so check the technical data sheet for the specific tape before applying it to a critical or heavily corroded joint.
How do I test a pipe joint for leaks with plumbers soap?
Dissolve the soap bar in water to make a soap solution, then brush or spray it over the joint, fitting or valve while the line is pressurised. Bubbles forming in the solution mark the leak location. It's a quick, low-cost check that doesn't need specialist leak-detection equipment.
What are maintenance record tags used for?
Maintenance record tags mark plant, pipework or equipment as danger, caution or out-of-service while it's isolated for repair, maintenance or inspection. They tell anyone else on site not to reinstate or re-pressurise the line until the person who tagged it clears the work.
Do I need to degrease a pipe before applying wrap tape?
Yes — oil, grease and loose contamination on the pipe surface will stop the petrolatum tape from bonding properly and can shorten the life of the corrosion protection. A degreaser such as CRC Lectra Clean will strip the surface back before you wrap it.
Does AIMS offer trade pricing on pipe maintenance and repair products?
Yes. Request a quote for bulk or trade pricing, or contact our team to talk through your job and we'll put together a price for what you need.