Abstract: A paint can channel perforating apparatus includes a perforating member, a stiffening brace and a plurality of perforating bits. The perforating bits are arranged normal to the plane defined by the perforating member. A protective housing may be adapted to enclose the perforating member and the rim of a paint can. The protective housing includes at least one cross member arranged parallel to the stiffening brace and a plurality of guides sized to accept and direct the stiffening brace linearly. A shaft may be fixedly attached to the stiffening brace and slideable relative to an orifice defined within one of at least one of the cross members. Further a spring may be positioned around the shaft and between a handle and the cross member to return the perforating bits to a rest position after the channel has been pierced by the perforating bits.