I have a situation that may get out of hand fast.
I have a friend that has been coming around the shop several times a week for years. He is a kind of a car guy. Drives a nice truck, likes to look at cars shows.. would like to own one.. but has neither the talent, tools, nor the perserverance to do anything about it. Several years ago I built a couple of Pro-Street Mustangs for guys. Tube chassis, narrowed 9", big block stuff, and he watched as they went together and always commented on how quick and easy it looked. Well, he got the hair to have one himself, so he bought this ratty 67 notchback, I mean it is a POS. He brings it over and wants me to build him one like the others. I show him that there is nothing left on his to use except the top and he gets ticked. The next time I see him he has purchased another one, this time a 66, that is just as bad except this one has a LOT of bondo hiding it all. I look it over and tell him the same thing as the other one. He says he still want to do it and what do I think it will cost and couldn't I just use the good parts from both?
I did the rough figures and told him it looked like a minimum $25k for a roller, no motor/trans, paint, no interior, etc. and he gets really funny with me and leaves.
He quits coming around for a couple of months, then he shows up one day and says he has done his own figuring and he thinks it should be more like $6-7K. I look at his numbers and naturally has he only thought of about 25% of the things he needs and as I add them the figures go up to 18K pretty fast. Then I estimate the time and he says " you mean your were going to charge me labor?"

I tried to explain about the simple things like electricity and heat, let alone all of the consumables I would use, besides the time I would spend. I asked him how much he made an hour and he says $31. I tell him "..ok I will do it for $25 and hour plus expenses.." he says "no but I will give you $10 and hour.." when I say no he gets mad and leaves.

I work full time at a regular job so I don't have alot of extra time. And, I have invested a whole thousands in equipment. So I really don't feel like giving up a lot just to give him his jollies. He is a nice guy but I can't say as he has ever done me any favors. He is one of those guys that will nickel and dime you to death with little requests, like will you weld my lawn mower housing, will you machine a new bushing for my fence gate, can you fab up a new alluminum frame for my barbeque grill.
I am 61 and who know how many years of good health I will have to do my own things. Besides, I have 8 grand kids that all want hot rods too. Am I being selfish? I certainly don't think so, but what do you guys think?