"Les Andersen" wrote in message
...

My review of the Blum catalog
discloses that the main differences a
38N is 1 piece - Compact 33 is 2 pieces
38N has 3 way adjustment - Compact 33 has 2 way adjustment
38N has 7/16" cup depth - Compact 33 has 1/2" cup depth
I don't care about the difference (105 degrees vs. 110 degrees) in
opening angles.
I know (Google archive search) that Leon uses 38N (by the
hundreds!) and I am tempted to use the 38N just because he uses them and
he seems to know what he's doing. However, I am curious as to whether the
38N or the Compact 33 is preferable in a given situation. Is
the 3 way adjustment more of a benefit than the 2 piece hinge? Is the cup
depth difference significant?

Yeah I like the 38N's and originally 17 years ago I started with the 33's.
The reasons that I prefer the 38N's is that they attach to the inside edge
of the face frame as do they 33's. However that was not always the case.
Additionally I used the 33's on my present kitchen and I find that they
loosen up between the 2 pieces over time and I have to go back and tighten
the connection "occasionally". With the 38N's this is not a problem. Like
you have noticed the extra adjustment is nice to have. Basically the 38N's
will initially adjust up and down during installation, they will adjust left
and right on the top and bottom and they will adjust in and out from the
face frame. Like Swingman indicated it makes for a quick tweak during the
install when the job is simply doors that have to matched up with existing
cabinets. As of yet I have not had any instances that I have had to go back
to a customers house and readjust. That said I show the customer how easy
it is to adjust the hinges when I finish the job. Also like Swingman said
the 33's are a bit more attractive when the door is open. The 38N's are
about $1. each cheaper in lots of 50. than the 2 piece set up.
You can take Swingman's word that the 33's are a great hinge also.

This is about the cheapest place that I have found for buying either.

http://wwhardware.com/catalog.cfm/Gr...3B%20Concealed

Keep in mind I usually buy in larger quantities. If you buy at the 50 price
at $1.30 each for the 38N's the 51st hinge will be at the single hinge
price. You have to buy in even stated increments to get the bigger
discount.