Abstract: A sheet metal bending brake apparatus adapted to make complex bends in a sheet metal workpiece, comprising a frame, a fixed holding bar mounted adjacent of said surface, a movable holding bar mounted on said frame movable between a forward clamping position in opposed clamping relationship with the fixed bar and a rearward and downward position below the plane of the fixed surface, a bending brake element adjacent the fixed jaw adapted to contact sheet metal held between the same, said bending element adapted to rotate 180.degree., or more, around a point adjacent the jaws, the movable holding bar being coordinated with the bending brake to release from the holding position before the bending brake has rotated 180.degree..