Cyclops,
Welcome to the forum!
Here in Central Indiana, there is a scouting organization called Firecrafter. It is similiar to the Order of the Arrow.
Part of the requirements for the third camp rank is to make Fire by Friction.
The you tube video shows a member starting a fire in the traditional way that the boys do it around here.
Probably the same way that you have done by the sounds of it.
At a Firecrafter meeting once, a scouter put on a demo of using bamboo. Same concept, but no bow is needed.
We all thought it was cool. I have yet to try it.
Again, welcome to the campfire!
Steve