>>64362mears, lundin and other not so famous people are known to make firebows/drills (depending on the resources and climate) in hour or so, and then make fire with it in few minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAs2xnfNidMI've tried many times and only succed once
the wood you choose it is not only have to be very dry, only a handful of species are good for it, also it has to be dead standing right?
not exactly, it can't be just dead, dried and hard it has to be a little softy, punky but just a little
the technique of drilling (I've only used fire bow) is a key here, it is very flimsy, you have to maintain proper speed and increase it in the right moment, if it's squeaking or falling out of depression you will fail
like I said: years of practice
