Abstract: Aiming at the industrial demand for replacing conventional dry sandblasting with water blasting technology, this study experimentally compares the rust removal efficiency and applicability of three commonly used abrasives, namely quartz sand, iron ore sand and copper ore sand, in water blasting treatment. The results demonstrate that quartz sand tends to agglomerate owing to its porous structure, which results in reduced equipment efficiency and uneven surface treatment; while iron ore sand increases the efficiency by 22.97% compared with quartz sand, it carries the risk of rust contamination. In contrast, copper ore sand with a particle size of 10-20 mesh (2 000-850 μm) features high hardness, regular particle morphology and excellent corrosion resistance, achieving a construction efficiency of 4.16 m²/h, which represents a 14.3% improvement over iron ore sand with no clogging issues, thus rendering it the optimal choice in terms of comprehensive cost and treatment performance. Furthermore, this study proposes the potential value of garnet as an eco-friendly alternative abrasive, providing a significant reference for abrasive selection and multi-objective optimization of the water blasting process.