Won't work very well unless you have flint specifically :-) Even if you know the techniques, starting fire without any manufactured tools or manufactured tools to make the devices is really really hard.
You're right that it's possible, but how long it takes, and whether or not you can do it, are dependent on skill and environment. Wrong kind of wood? Screwed. Been raining for a day? Screwed. Sometimes this can be overcome, but you have to know what you're doing, and it can still take hours to generate enough heat to dry the wood until it's possible to friction combust it. Try it sometime, just bring a lighter with you.
But friction methods are tough, even if you have a well-made spindle and fireboard--which of course require tools. You're not easily creating those without tools to make those tools. And, even then, it's not super easy especially in a non-optimum environment.