Just because you can get solders both leaded and lead-free having the same flux, does not mean that is usually the case. Your typical lead-free alloy will have

Just because you can get solders both leaded and lead-free having the same flux, does not mean that is usually the case. Your typical lead-free alloy will have a nastier flux. Is this a big effect? No. The real reason to stick with leaded is simply that it's much, much easier to use. If you get a joint done in half the time, that's half the exposure to nasty stuff. For hobbyist stuff, it doesn't really matter. A moderately skilled operator can do the job about as quickly with either type of solder. For the really hard stuff, like fine-pitch QFNs and 0201s or worse... give me 63/37 any day. (But only if I can't have a skilled soldering technician instead!)