I recently hooked up a 240V circuit for a Grizzly 8" jointer, and for the cabinet saw I'll be getting later this year. The space is a garage bay, about 12 x 24'. The panel is in the corner, and I run metal solid or flex conduit on the surface (sheetrocked wall) to a series of handy-box outlets along the long wall. Some machines are on that wall (sanders, bandsaw, planer is pretty close). But the larger machines are more toward the center of the space. For them, I can either run a cord on the floor, over to the wall, or undertake to run something up to the ceiling and over. So far I'm too lazy for the latter, and I'm happy to have the flexibility that simple cords-on-the-floor gives me, for moving things around as needed. I don't like stepping over cords all the time, but for now it seems a good solution.
When the jointer arrived (Grizzly 0858), I wasn't surprised to find the stock power cord was too short to reach the wall. I bought a length of SJOOW 12/3, thinking to make up a new power cord, and replace the original. But one thing led to another, and it was easier to stay away from the machine control panel, and just make up an extension cord, and plug into that. But I didn't need the extra length, and I didn't want the bulky plug on the floor, so I chopped the original cable, so it's now two feet long, with a new 6-20p connector which hangs nicely, without touching the floor. Then the SJOOW I made into an extension.
I didn't plan it, but there's a benefit to this that I really like. If I have ANY doubt about safety, and unplugging from power to perform some setup operation, I don't have to hesitate. And I don't have to walk over to the outlet, which is on the far wall, behind the bandsaw, etc. Now, I can just reach over the jointer fence, and unplug it right there. The cord is so short it's never in the way.
Now I'm planning to wire my table saw similarly, later this summer. I've not heard of anyone else doing it this way, and just thought I'd run it by the brain trust, to make sure I'm not missing something. My gauges are not in doubt (not to me). The Grizzly is wired with 14 AWG, and I went with 12 for safety and the extra distance. I can't recall the amperage (12?), but it's well within the limits of a total run of about 20 feet from machine to main panel, with all of it 12 AWG, except the first couple feet supplied by Grizzly. Beyond that, I can't see any issue with this... but you don't know what you don't know... so I'm asking.
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