Great job everyone, do you all remember that first coal and the feeling you had from making friction fire for the very first time? After that we all thought we were Gods of the flame, until you try the made in the field unproven bowdrill kit. That's when we learn that your only as good as your last successful friction fire. I never carry a bowdrill kit but if one is needed I make it from scratch, in dry environments this is much easier. Making a bowdrill kit from scratch in Ohio is not always a sure thing. But I still love that feeling of getting a coal each and everytime.
Oh so true, friction fire is a great skill to have, but it only works SOME of the time even with the experts. I wouldn't rely on it for my only source of fire. It's definitely the most fun of all fire starting methods in my opinion. I like doing it, even when I fail. Satisfies the primal urges for sure.
Way to go BD! 
I'm going to be working on the Fire Plow next, I haven't seen that yet...
I wish you the best with the fire plow, I've only been able to get a coal once with the fire plow. Usually, lots of smoke and not much else or it burnishes the wood and I have to sand out the trough to get friction again.
I've tried nearly every method of friction fire...bow-drill, fire plow, bamboo saw, rope saw, hand-drill, etc. The only two I've had a reasonable amount of success with is the bow-drill and bamboo saw. I'm still working on the hand-drill, but without a thumb string I haven't been too successful. Of all of them, the bow-drill seems to be the most reliable method. It's easier when you use good wood that you've had seasoning at your house for a year...not so much when you have to find something out in the woods and do it on the spot.
I've found that the absolute best way to get proper materials in the field is to baton them out of a dry log. I usually look for dead trees that have fallen and are leaning up against another tree, and then saw a section out of it that's at least 4ft above the ground. Moisture usually settles in the lowest part of the log, so I try to use the top part (the high side) batoned off for the fireboard, the inner heart for the spindle, and the low side for the spindle. In this way, I get the driest stuff possible. Limbs laying on the ground soak up too much moisture. The higher you go, the drier it will be.
Here are some other tips.
Make sure you get the initial divot in the fireboard and socket deep enough with your knife. Too shallow and it will let the spindle pop out...and usually right about the time it's ready to coal.
Make your spindle as straight as possible. Crooked spindles wobble during the spin, and are more likely to jump out of the socket.
If it squeaks it's wet.
An easy way to test if it's dry enough, is to put it up to your cheek. If it feels cold, it's wet.
Big notches let in lots of air, Small notches hold in heat. If you're getting lots of smoke and punk but no coal, try fiddling with your notch size.
