Fill any cracks or holes in the wood with solvent-based wood filler. Allow the wood filler to dry.
Sand the entire easel with 120-grit sandpaper.
Sand the entire easel with 220-grit sandpaper.
Vacuum, sweep, blow or wipe down the easel with a tack cloth to remove all sanding dust.
Dampen a rag with mineral spirits and wipe down the easel.
Stain your easel, if desired, or you can bypass this step if you want to preserve the natural wood tone. Working in the direction of the grain, apply oil-based stain semi-generously with a paintbrush and leave it to soak into the wood for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how dark you want the stain. Wipe off the excess stain with a rag, allow it to dry and apply a second coat to make up for any uneven stain coverage. Allow the second coat to dry.
Apply a coat of oil-based, gloss polyurethane varnish to the easel with a paintbrush. Allow the varnish to dry.
Sand the first coat of varnish lightly with 220-grit sandpaper then apply a second coat of varnish. Repeat this step one or two more times to create a thick, durable coating.