Honing and stropping on pasted strops both produce a sharper edge. Honing improves the physical qualities of the bevel and edge. Stropping on pasted strops improves the edge but over time rounds the bevel, eventually to the point that re-honing is required. Stropping on a pasted strop requires less skill than honing and takes less time. Although it is a near-term solution to dullness, it is not a long-term solution.