ANNE PRO 2 - HOTSWAP MOD, LUBED GATERON SWITCHES, & STABS MOD

Here is my very first try at modding a mechanical keyboard. I found this Anne Pro 2 on eBay for around $60 and fixed it up. I desoldered the original Cherry MX red switches, added in MillMax sockets to the PCB which made it a hotswap PCB. I then bought new Gateron Yellow linear switches, lubed them and replaced the Cherry MX red switches for a smooth and buttery feel.

I know I didn't get it all right the first time and I did make a few mistakes, but I'm proud of the end result and happy that I went through with this daunting project.

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Timestamps:

0:00 Intro
0:32 Keycap removal/Dirty plate
0:58 Initial LED test
1:06 Keycap cleaning / Debris cleaning
1:44 Top metal plate removal
1:55 Battery removal
2:48 Desoldering a stock switch
3:21 Gateron Yellow PCB test
3:38 Cherry MX Red switch overview
4:10 Prepping the PCB and desoldering stock switches
4:50 Gateron Yellow switch opening and lube prep
5:19 Lubing the springs
5:49 Lubing the switches
6:40 Cleaning, clipping, and lubing the stabilizers
9:15 Hotswap conversion using MillMax sockets
11:18 Reassembly and testing
12:16 Audio comparison with HyperX Alloy Origins Core

FAQ:

Q: Is the Anne Pro 2 hotswap and can I use different switches?
A: No, the AP2 comes with the switches already soldered to the PCB. To use different switches you have do this mod or desolder the old and resolder the new switches.

Q: What tools did you use and where can I get them?
A: Most of the tools can be bought directly from Amazon. Here is the wish list I made: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...

Q: What lube did you use and where can I buy it?
A: I used Krytox 205g0 lube which can be purchased here: https://www.ashkeebs.com/product/kryt...

Q: What switches did you buy and where did you get them?
A: I bought the Gateron Yellow SMD because I wanted a smooth linear switch and these were a great starting point. You can buy them here: https://bit.ly/2JulPZa. I would suggest buying at least 70 switches just to have backups. These have been really great to type and game on especially after lubing them.

Q: What are these sockets called and where can I buy them?
A: The sockets I used are the Mill-Max 7305-0-15-15-47-27-10-0. You can buy them from a few different sources:
1. Mouser: https://bit.ly/3ljLgtp
2. Ringer Keys: https://bit.ly/2HNhZcT
3. DigiKeys: https://bit.ly/2VhEp9f

Q: About how long did the mod take?
A: From start to finish I would say a few days. If I were to do it in one go it would probably be between 2-6 hours. This depends on your soldering efficiency too.

Q: After installing the sockets can I use any switch?
A: Most if not all Cherry, Gateron, and Kailh switches will work just fine. Some switches such as a few Kailh Box variants will be difficult to insert into the sockets.

Q: Why did you swap out the stock switches?
A: I was curious to try other switches and I saw someone had done this exact mod so I challenged myself to do the same. I also wanted a nicer keyboard in terms of feel and audio.

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