That microwave spark fest taught you more than any forge safety talk.

Your tape idea could be overkill. I've watched shops where signs blend into the background. Training beats tape every time.

Nice work getting it to hold heat on the first try! My first one was more of a brick oven because I used the wrong bricks and everything just soaked up the fire. Learned the hard way that firebricks and the right mortar aren't just a suggestion. Those regular bricks can actually hold moisture and pop when they get hot enough, which is a fun surprise. Make sure your metal grate sits in there nice and tight, or all your heat escapes out the sides like Susan said. A little gap turns your grill into a space heater for your patio instead of your food.

Saw my buddy do that once, his soup was great and now he always does it.

Setting up guides before diving in is a common trick for avoiding mistakes. It works in things like woodworking or even planning my week on a calendar. That prep work usually saves time fixing errors down the road.