Hello, Jonathan - We're sorry that you're not having a good experience with the jig saw! The blade of the saw does cut in an orbital motion. This feature is adjustable and provides faster, more efficient cutting. With orbital motion, the blade cuts through the work on the upstroke but does not drag across the work on the downstroke. To adjust the orbital motion, rotate the orbital adjustment knob to the desired setting. Refer to page 7 of the manual to find the right setting for your application. Note, setting the orbital position to a lower setting will result in a smoother finish but a slower cut. A higher setting will result in a rougher finish but a faster cut. As you alluded to in your review, a straight cut can be made by clamping a piece of wood or straightedge to the workpiece and guiding the edge of the saw base against it. Make the cut from one direction only. Don’t cut halfway and complete the cut from the opposite end. We hope this information is helpful! And if you'd like to discuss your experience further, then please email us at Reviews@RIDGIDmail.com.
Use and Care Manual:
https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/2a/2a482b7a-8917-4e96-a0c8-ed8a628b9009.pdf