The plains tribes around here... Southern Alberta... Used chokecherry and serviceberry shoots for shafts.... Heavy I'm gonna say yes... Myself I would be more likely to use similar sized shoots rather then doweling them.. Not to say it wouldn't work.. Ifin you gottem picked and dried what the heck giver beans... What's the worst that could happen you might learn something(My Dad's quote)
There was a dowel machine on here (arrows) that used a router and hardwood block.. Do a search... Take some pics and let us know how it goes good, bad or ugly
Thanks Leroy