What are Dabs? A Dab is a small amount of concentrated cannabis oil. Dabs are typically smoked out of special pipes often known as oil rigs or dab rigs. These “rigs” are set up with a nail that is heated up and the dab is placed on it. The heat from the nail vaporizes the dab and the user breathes in the smoke. This oil is void of plant material which gives it full melt characteristics.