I have a 220v 30a double breaker in its own outdoor box (Gould WEQ2
ITE, whatever that means), about 35 yr old, that is connected only to
an upstairs window AC and an outdoor outlet. Since the shop is very
close to the house, I've never properly wired the shop. I just plug a
homebuilt extension cord into the outdoor outlet to run my lathe,
drill press, etc. (Lathe is the only tool that draws 220; I have a DC
motor with regulator that runs up to 180 V on it.)

Anyway, one side of the breaker where it pushes into a (aluminum)
terminal in the box apparently corroded to some extent, then shorted
out. I don't know when it happened but was thinking some sort of
power surge during the Feb ice storm in this neck of the woods, which
knocked out power to the county for five days and ours for almost two
weeks.

Wondering (a) why only one side would short that way; (b) is aluminum
suitable for those terminals, or is that old technology, away from
which I should run; (c) where I could get a new terminal (10 minute
job) instead of replacing the whole box (electricity off for several
hours).

Insight? Comments? Physical threats?

Best -- Terry