Ummmm..... why?

kerosene can be toxic and for some reason around here is hard to find....and if you ever happened to run out of it?.....what would or can you use?

If your main use is lighting you might want to consider other alternative.
I use to have kerosene lamps as a back-up lighting system for when the power would go out. (Happens frequently in our neighbourhood.) One Christmas we had company over, power went out, got out the hurricane lamps - I failed to notice that one of the support brackets on one of the lamps was broken - end result was the glass chimney fell to the floor! Cleaning up glass shards in inadequate light was not fun.
If you use kerosene lamps you should calculate how many ounces of fuel you will burn each hour and store the necessary amount of fuel. Also have spare wicks, chimneys, etc.
I have switched to using battery powered LED lights for my emergency lighting. I like the Everyready brand of lights. A four AA battery lantern will provide me with enough light to brighten a medium size room for 100 hours. If I used my old Aladdin kerosene lamp I would use about 3/4 gallon of fuel for the same result. Using rechargeable batteries makes it an even better system.

Just some thoughts to consider.
Arkbuilder

I have some hurricane lamps that have never been used. I have seen on the internet that you can use either olive oil or vegetable oil (although more dark smoke than olive oil) in the lantern?

I do have kerosene lamp oil on hand, but would prefer to use the alternative if I can....any ideas?

What have you used?

Down-Under Kero is ridiculously priced. On another site I was looking at I ran across this as a temp - Quick fix - I tried this then myself and thought this is good for an emergency, Just Remember it is a naked flame and take appropriate safety measures with it.

Try getting a glass jar with metal lid put a 3-5 mm hole (I'm still experimenting with mine) or slightly larger hole in top of the lid, 3/4 fill jar with old cooking oil, tear of a strip of flannelette (*enough for a wick) and wet in jar of old oil and stick through the hole in the lid - replace metal lid on jar securely put in safe area as naked flame is exposed - light and adjust. I have one ready to go at all times now sitting on a shelf in my garage. ( works good with dry cow poo as well).

kerosene can be toxic and for some reason around here is hard to find....and if you ever happened to run out of it?.....what would or can you use?

i buy my kerosene at TSC, 5gal for $45 on sale, $49 reg. IIRC.

is that lamp kerosene?.....

Gotta go with Arkbuilder on this. The age of kerosene lamps has passed. LED's draw so little power they can be powered off the sun.

what about biodiesel

I go with a few lighting systems. kerosene will not only give you light, but will also heat. You wont get that with LED. Also, the Canadian military uses naptha, which can be used in your kerosene lantern. So, if IT were to hit the fan and we still had a military, you may be able to get fuel from the military. When I was in Ottawa with the military durring the ice storms of 98, we provided civillians with naptha numerous times.

Please do not use naphtha (a.k.a. white gas, Coleman fuel) or any other highly volatile, low flash point, type fuel in a wick-based lamp or lanterns unless you like to play Russian Roulette with fireballs!
Also, if you do chose to use a flame based lighting system please make sure you invest in several large (i.e. 10lbs) ABC fire extinguishers and train all the members in your family how to properly use them. Under the type of situations we discuss on this forum community firefighting resources may not be available and you will be on your own to deal with any uncontrolled fires resulting from your efforts to light/heat etc.
Also, if you anticipate using flames in your home when the electricity is off - please make sure that your carbon monoxide dectectors are working off batteries - not wall current.
One of my fears in a survival situation is that my neighbours will set the neighborhood on fire due to careless use of candles, lamps, lanterns, etc.
Just some things to consider,
Arkbuilder

is that lamp kerosene?.....

works for lamps, i can't tell the difference between lamp oil with karosene in it, or the "grade 1" kerosene used for heaters (and my lamps)

Please do not use naphtha (a.k.a. white gas, Coleman fuel) or any other highly volatile, low flash point, type fuel in a wick-based lamp or lanterns unless you like to play Russian Roulette with fireballs!
Also, if you do chose to use a flame based lighting system please make sure you invest in several large (i.e. 10lbs) ABC fire extinguishers and train all the members in your family how to properly use them. Under the type of situations we discuss on this forum community firefighting resources may not be available and you will be on your own to deal with any uncontrolled fires resulting from your efforts to light/heat etc.
Also, if you anticipate using flames in your home when the electricity is off - please make sure that your carbon monoxide dectectors are working off batteries - not wall current.
One of my fears in a survival situation is that my neighbours will set the neighborhood on fire due to careless use of candles, lamps, lanterns, etc.
Just some things to consider,
Arkbuilder

now i could be wrong on this, but aren't naphtha lanterns a mantle based lamp that you pressurize to get the gas to flow?
because you are dead right about the wick based lights, and white gas/gel gas. . . i just can't recall using a naphtha lamp before. . .

Entropy, you are correct.
I was responding to the previous post that suggested using naphtha in a kerosene lamp/lantern. Didn't want somebody to get an unexpected surprize!
Arkbuilder

this is the lamp oil that i am referring to...purchased at Walmart, says that it is kerosene based and has a photo of a lamp that is not pressurized...here is the link

http://www.walmart.ca/canada-estore/search/searchcontainer.jsp?searchString=lamp+oil&ancestorID=alldept&startSearch=yes&skuTypeParam=Normal&catgId=&_requestid=29622