Is this person abusive?

Someone in my life is very nice to other people, but is contemptuous and raises his voice automatically when he's involved working on a project. Even if he has asked for my help, he gets impatient and sarcastic with me. He says that he doesn't mean anything by it but I'm ready to cut him out of my life. I don't treat him this way. I don't believe he should treat his family this way either. His children try to avoid riling him (easy to do). He's never once raised a hand to me in the 26 years I've known him but his loud voice and sarcastic manner make some of his grown children afraid to talk to him. He refuses to pick up the phone so I can never get in touch with him during the day, but he knows where I am and will call me at work to ask questions about the computer. His usual method of talking to me is sarcastic and snide. Am I wrong to think that this behavior is abusive?