NEW BERLIN -- Students in Don Gunther's collision repair technology classes, at SUN Area Career and Technology Center, who are used to fixing dinged fenders and crumpled hoods had a slightly different assignment when they restored several newspaper vending boxes for The Daily Item.

James Spontarelli, single copy manager for the newspaper, had 11 steel vending boxes that had been in use for years. All were faded and scratched, showing the wear and tear of hard use, although they were still usable. He approached Gunther, collision repair tech instructor, and asked if his students could help out.

Last week, the results of their work came out of the shop with a new look. Drew Wagner and Andrew Burdole, both of Mifflinburg, said they spent several hours each day for about three weeks refurbishing two of the boxes.

"We sanded out all the rusty spots and primed them," said Burdole.

The next step was wet sanding, explained Wagner, which resulted in a smooth finish. He did much of that part of the project, followed by spraying with automotive paint and then applying a clear coat.

The most difficult aspect of the job, Wagner said, was working with the sharp angles and corners on the newspaper boxes, an aspect not usually found on auto doors and fenders.

The final step was applying vinyl lettering and the logo of the Mifflinburg Wildcats to the box.

Spontarelli assured Wagner and Burdole that the box was be placed in Mifflinburg where everyone could see their handiwork.

For Corey Ramer and Aaron Dressler, both Midd-West students, the hand painting necessary to depict the Midd-West Mustang was the most difficult part of the project, although they said there was a lot of time involved in straightening the panels on the two boxes they refurbished.

"We had to use a hammer and a dolly for that and then fill in with body putty," said Ramer.

Each part of the painting operation required an overnight drying period, Dressler said.

Spontarelli said he would install the two boxes emblazoned with the Midd-West Mustang in Middleburg and Beavertown.

Gunther said the vending boxes presented some interesting challenges for the students, since they had to do some free-hand painting and work with sharp angles, both unusual in automotive work. In addition to auto work and now newspaper boxes, the students have also fabricated several bear traps for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.